The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-07-22
FUNERAL or A TAME RAT,
Mike Was Popular In tho Neighborhood and
There Were Many Nourners.

Mike was buried on Tuesday afternoon.
That *. the first interment occurred then.
The second burial was late in the evening
News OF Mikes death was not published in any
paper and no carriages followed the BODY to
the grave. but there we're many mourners and
the grief was sincere.
Nike was buried in The animal burying ground
on Convent Heights opposite ST. Nicholas avenue
near i3lst street. where already had been buried
the bodies OF two cats. three canary birds,
one parrot and "Snoozer." n fox terrier, all
Of them pets Of their owners as well "a friends
OF the children who live in the block.
Mike was a tame white rat who belonged
70 a family who live az the corner Of 10th street
and ST. Nicholas avenue. He was an enter
prising rat. lie lived, when at home. on the
top floor. and daily he would go through the
open windows to the wide ledge which runs
the entire block, and passing through the open
windows Of other flats make informal cnls
on the neighbors. 1t was quite a common
occurrence" when a family was at breakfast,
or lunch or dinner to see Mike suddenly appear
on the table and help himself to a portion Of
whatever food appealed to him. Sometimes
he would disappear with the food in his mouth
as quickly IA he came. At other times he
N'ulb ! Wy w IL ni'lHtlt'- ana eat, nOlNlnQ
the food in his paws as a squirrel holds a nut.
Sometimes his calls lasted for several hours
and al other times he would scamper through
a fiat, return in a few minutes 10 the perlor,
jump 10 q chair, then to the window sill and
ledge and continue on his route. The house
wife found Nike in the most unexpected places
In bed. closets, clothes baskets and bureau
drawers. One morning he JAILED in for break
fast on a family and was allowed TO help himself.
When he had finished he crrlnd himself M
like A kitten on on" corner Of the table and
went TO -leep, He slept for an hour, the removal
q the dishes and other noises not disturbing
him.
Strange to say. Mike would not eat cheese.
but he was fond Of cocoa. milk. potatoes, corn,
meat, and especially Of lettuce and similar
homeward along the ledge, carrying a choice
morSel for future use, His owner estimated
that Nike brought home on nm average about
Nike was not popular with all the persons
on his list; II Is rumoreI that he was pushed
from the ledge by an enemy, However TINT
may, be. one Of the Roger win found him
on the Sidewalk on Tuesday afternoon badly
hurt. Mike VA, NJ once taken 10 his home.
whore he died IN a few minutes. The body
wa put in a fancy, gold-embossed candy box,
lined with blue silk. A white ribbon was tied
around the box,
Burial arrangements were then made. The
owner led the Procession. carrying 4 spade.
IN single fIe Jay. George. Balance. .Teddie.
John. Winnie, "S~lats"-vhich is short for Slat-
tary-"Fatty" and his sister Grace, Ethel. Mar
garet Readc, and a dozen Others
Great care was taken 10 prevent the Eighth
avenues" as tho Juvenile residents Of that
avonue are known, from learning Of the event
and making trouble. After Mike had boon
properly inferred a big cannon cracker was
fred ne n salute and the procession retraced
lis. steps, Later II vas rumored that the
Eighth avenues" had learned Of tho burial
and were about 10 steal tho body. The process
sion was quickly rcforred and marched 10
the grave The body Of Mike was di-interred
and rphuripl i'm lnOthpr spDt