The Portland daily press., 1899-08-10
TALES OF ANIMALS.
Diacskmaii Levied by Rats-Four-footcd
Animals ut Church.

Rats have always levied toll In kind on
the human Iacs. Blackmsil oheerfulIy
paid to rats Is, however, something new
to history and tritute TO their great
abilities. They had established them
selves under meatmarket and, accord
ing to the owner 'the way they used to
pick and choose was dreadful" when
two carcaRses of mutton were available
they would eat the prime and leave the
poorer. The best WIS hardly good enough
for them. and they we're cunning even
hey ond tie cunning of market rats. So
the owner resolved to maks treaty and
pay blGt kmail, relying ON the economic
wisdom Of rats. he gave them three
square meals q day, with plenty oi
variety, In the hope that the rats would
bs apfeassd aud not eat mutt3n at nigh
too. The menu was bread, fancy biscuit,
po;atos and sugar, and was laid near
the rats front door. At first they used tc
come up furtiyely and cnrry 1.-THE f-odssoti
to their holes. But now they come OUT
regularly into the shop, eating their
luncheon on equal terms with their hosts
Their leader Is an old grizzlei rat who
ras lost an ear. He has become the
medium" between the high contracting
side ty eating bread and biscuits out CT
the shipments fingers. TIE rats now be-
have exactly ike other tribes when In
receipt of blackmail, in that they drive
of all intruders. "Iho other day" said
ono of the shormen. "a strange rat got
In among 'em and you should have seen
'em chase him out They ran him right
out OF the shop, In front OF all OF US, and
believe If he'd "a stayed they'd have
killed him.
IL saw q curious incident not long ago
which seems to Show that the rabbit, like
other wild creatures. hns room Ia It's
brain for only one idea at time" says
a lover Of animals. II Was walking up
a lane. with three dogs trotting in front;
a smart iittls fox terrier and fat black
cooker spaniel led the way said by side.
and another very fat cocker waddled sfter
them, about ten races IN the rear. A rabbit
Dolted out cf the hedge just after the TWO
dogs had passed and, coming face TO face
with the very fat cocker. wheeled and
dashed up the lane, Iassing the other
two dogs SO closely that the fox terrier
raced alongside poor bunny for half a
dozen yards and caught him. The curl
GUS part of the butiness was that the
rabbit, when boiling from the dog he-
hind, almost ran into the two dogs In
front and, plainly, did not see them at
all tiltit had passed them and the fox
terrier gave chase. l suppose It's thoughts
and energies were centered on escape from
the rolly-poly dog which, had the rabbit
cDly known 1t, could nave cauaht y
swallow on the wing as soon as its fright
ensd SELF"
In days not long past 1t was customary
in smany English country churches to
provide q separate pew for the accommo-
dation of those four-footed members of
the congregation who attended their
masters to the place CT worship on a
Sunday. TODAY the presence OF anything
not human causes some confusion among
the worshipers. A bull the other day dis
turbsd the congregation assemb led at
week -day service at Arles-sur- Teche not
\ little; indeed, the woman portion of the
screamed ani faintei,
while the priest vanished and the male
portion swarmed up the pillars or crept
under the pews with remarkable dispatch.
The cause of the disturbance was to be
ths principal In bull fight that after
noon, warranted to tax his strength to
the utmost, so evidently determined to
reserve himself for the fray. After
sniffipg around and lying down in the
aisle be Uttered himself to be led quietly
away. Chicago News.