New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-09-17
PATS THAT NEED DENTISTRY.
EAST RIVER RODENTS SUFFER FROM EAT
INC SWEETS IN FERRY HOUSES

EAST RIVER RODENTS SUFFER FROM EAT
ING SWEETS IN FERRY HOUSES
Animal dentistry has been practised more or
less extensively in the last few years and if the
rats of the East River had the attention they
require in this direction it would probably
prove TO be a most lucrative branch Of the dental
profession According to the men employed
about the ferry houses on the river the rats are
In danger Of losing their teeth and all through
the excessive eating OF candy and other sweets.
The men who pretend 10 be posted on the sub
iect do not know whether the inordinate desire
which the rats have lately evinced for cOnfec-
tonery is natural or the result Of an acquired
taste. but they are inclined to the latter theory.
one man has gone so far to say that he be-
ueves the rats got their taste for sweets
through seeing so many young women MUNICH
ing candy while waiting In the ferry houses for
the boats Be this as 1t may. the ferry hands
declare that the rodents have got the taste, and
got il bad at that. The result is that a war Of
determination has been declared on the rats,
but as yet 1t cannot be said to have been highly
successful in decreasing their number.
In all the ferry houses there are stands where
various articles Of merchandise are sold, largely
including candies. popcorn balls, maple sugar
and such things OF late the rats, according TO
the fcrrymen. have become the biggest custom
ers Of the stands. although not the best ones,
because while they consume vast quantities OF
the sweets they pay nothing for them. They
even add insult 10 injury by giving the merry
"Ha. ha" to the hard working young men who
tend the stands. and who depend upon a share
Of the profits for a livelihood The house rat
has always had the reputation Of being a cute
little fellow with a remarkably sharp eye FOR
business bat If the ferrymen TO be believed
he cannot hold a candle to the rats Of the
East River.
Last night as the reporter entered the Thirty
fourth-st ferry house at an hour when all hon
est people but policemen and reporters are sup
posed to be- in bed. he heard series Of strange
noises issuing from the candy stand, accom-
panied by an occasional squeak.
The little rascals laying in their nightly
supply Of good things" said the ticket chopper,
as he walked up to the stand and ave 1t few
vigorous knocks. This was followed by a pat
tering Of many feet which showed that while
they may have been small they were by no
means noiseless.
"Them's veterans. them is" said another man
! TN the ferry house, he borrowed a match
from the ticket seller Them rats Is bigger'n
/ cats and cutter than the MaIet Committee"
Why don't they catch them?' ventured the
reporter.
/ tone; why don't yer go out and catch a hand
/ full Of stars some night when yer got little
/ time off? Some Of them rats are odern you
/ are. an gray as badgers. They are losing their
| teeth though chewing snOwballs"
/ Just then a lively commotion heard in
/ the candy stand. and lots Of things must have
/ gone rafting down from the shelves. The stand
| had been boxed in and locked up by the at
/ tCndant before he went home. all the ferry
/ men could DO was To bang on the outside 20
frighten the thieying rodents away
III bet them rats eat ten pounds Of candy
| every night" said the we'll posted man, he
continued To dilate upon their evil prOpensities
The other day q woman gave the new man
! who is tending the stand on the other side OF
| the river the greatest laying out ever
! got She said that she had bought box OF
candy 10 take to her sisters children and wher
she got to the house there nothing but
pieces Of paper in the box The candy man said
ne didn't sec how that could be. Was there
little hole In the box marm| he asked There
was, said the woman. Then IT was rats wha'
got Yer candy. marm." he added
remember when l was helping repair the
dock over there, and we came on a nest OF the
rats the man went on. We'll" he said "Il
wager we got barrel OF candy out Of It, Their,
was about four pounds OF lOypops two hun.
oieu popcorn balls, seventeen bars Of maple
sugar, half bushel II cream chocolates anC
HlNcd candles by the buckctful"
Al ms point there was another rattle I'm m,
stand ana an old graybeard OF d rodent cam,
tumDhnB down over the top TO the ferry hous,
moor. ne sCanpered of 70 q hole in the corner
but just before he disappeared he turned abou
and looked the crowd over He was mos
disreputaole looking old fellow nearly twice a,
large the ordinary house rat His head va,
SCARED and his ears chewed of in conbat
with his enemies
"Td give a dollar II could catch that OF,
thief" exclaimed the ticket chopper.