New-York tribune., 1907-11-17


they = fought 31, It, the % s2gs "a ana d. killed .5 the CATS
And licked the soup from the COOKS own adss.
Msss .Ts nests ral5 inside t mems ] sa3fag yss hats
With shrieking and squeaking
In fifty different sharps and fats.
The children who have read Browning's poem
'The Pied Piper of Hamelin' may think that his
picture OF the state of affairs IN Hamelin town be-
fore the pied piper lUred the rats into the River
Weser is exaggerated, but persons familiar with
the ways OF rats easily credit any of these
things. Rats have been known 20 Kill and eat
babies, and as they not afraid to attack full
grown they would probably make sort work
great they We're in Hameln. For its size the
plies 50 rapidly R thaf it IS no Wonder T it got u the
better Of the poor people Of Hamctn. Browning is
tens and dozens" only he does not mention that
every year and 20 out into the world 10 seek their
fortunes. Increasing at such rate. rats would
have great many mortal enemies. The hand.
not only OF every man. but Of great many Of the
that their temper is not of the best.
Tor increase are enough 10 make it a formidable
enemy. but with these qualities 1t combines the
:o1s hcw one small head can carry all it knows.
EEery housekeeper realizes how hard II is 70 catch
traps however tempting -yaa bait. The stories
and they viii also leave burning bniidine before
the human inmates aware Of the Presence oil
nre. They seem never 10 lose tb1lr presence or
mind. and matter how great Their danger they
and take advantage Of every ia .oring circLTn-
stance. When matched with 4 ferret in closed
room will keep close under the windows, 50
ferret darling forward for bite and returning
quickly u its place of vantage
Rats show extreme cleverness in transporting
eggs to their homes They have been known 10
carry them not only from the top of a house 70
me bottom. but from the bottom 70 the top. IL
lakes do this. one handing the egg to
The the step above or the step below.
Equally ingenious is their method OF getting OH or
a perch conveniently nearEhe bottle and dips us
TAI into the fluid ard Their another rat Hicks the
tail II one rat works alone il llcks its own tan
Rats do seem 10 be at all particular aDouL
what they eat. They Kill young birds in Their
nests and carry off young chickens and duck
lnsE from the farmyard- They make nests IN
the buds and leaves. They feast on the contents
ot cellars and pantries. but will consume also
viii apparent relis the most objecti9nable OF
feEHse Even such seemingly innutrtlous SUD-
,aances leather and ivory will furnish them
u"n a meal in case Of need They used 70 be
considered useful scavengers, but when We
nouse6 o feed GDcn bread and autter, most
of Us would he willing 10 hispense with such ser
. be carriers OF disease. among other things or
me bubonic plague. which has killed such VAST
numbers Of hunlan beings. For this reason war
q determination Is being waged against the
fsts OF San Francisco. The health authorities say
he rats are FOR rats cannot be qual antined. When
man gets the plague he Knows Il and IS willing
70 De quiet and stay where ne ca anot give IL 10
my one else hut a rat runs all over tie city dis
1,puting the disease.
tsts pass and tie UNPLEASANT Things tney edil
teanlness Is one of their virtues they Keep tnell @
.9r perfectly Clean and comb their whiskers with
,,nty would probably have more il they had any op
'S''tunity TO cultivate them. Their nerceness Is