Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1910-01-07
His Method Was Successful, but Il
Remains a Secret.

: Remains Secret.
In the early sixties Of the last cen
fury the Smithsonian institution was
infested with rats. Nothing in the
building seemed to be rat proof. They
ate skins cured with arsenical soap OF
table linen or the contents Of Professor
Henry's pantry without discrimination.
Every one in the city, from Professor
Henry to the bootblack, had one sub
ject in common, and that was rats"
AS Professor Henry, who lived in
the east end of the building, was lis
teaing to an account Of the ruin
Wrought in his home during that day
Professor Spencer Baird walked in
and slid. just as If he had been fol-
lowing, every word Of the family con-
versation, Il have just been told that
there is a man in Philadelphia who
can rid thE place of rats"
Professor Henry's eyes expressed
interest and incredulity at the same
moment
81 have his address here" went on
the assistant secretary. HE calls
himself the 'rattn kong and won't
take cent If ratremains and has
Well send for him if it takes our
last thousand cents to do itv said
Professor Henry and laughingly pre-
dicted the repetition Of the famous old
tale of the Pied Piper Of Hamelin.
To lac
appeared in Washington. He was al
most'as short as he was broad and
wore oothes too loose for description;
they nav no shape. He carried large
oilcloth Nck and a covered basket.
His peneINting blue eyes were almost
covered nyshaggy eyebrows, and his
blond hair I'D not been cut, but bag
gled. His hQnner was short and
brisk, and he\went straight to the
point, talking { Professjr Henry in
German.
He declared thatuot a rat would be
in the building thre'days hence if his
directions were obey5 During that
time he would stay the basement
alone; every door vase he locked
and on no account was o To be dis.
turbed until he gave themtbe signal
So they left him in acknowledgements
and carried out his directions.
On Sunday morning To-, oer old
man emerged from the ,r[ness On
confident Of his success u no 70.
fused to accept the money w,ch was
Ills due then and there, but NSc;ctod
that Professor Henry mail thesect
to him in Philadelphia the follC; inc
week. Y
"Now you can leave your food in ~
basement, and it won't be touched
And won't take a cent II you are
troubled with rats" were his parting
words.
Cheese and cake were directly placed
about the building to tempt the rats
Morning after morning they were
found as they had been left, and from
that day to this the Smithsonian insti
tuition has never been seriously trou
bled with rats. And no one has evel
found out the secret Of the "rat kings
method. Youths Companion.
,.r.ys: -71 -y-J-l7 aTu WIS me-
named Fraunces, who liked good ~
ing and with whom WashingtoTS,,o4
tinually quarreled about the 6ad a. !
ing. One time he bought saw =.
February, and as Washing he waa
coming into the dining-Sh IT wa.
charmed and asked VIZ the stewara
1T is shad," rec was the onIr
"a very fine shaad l bought If for
one in the MARY
you" you pay for Nty, s,,,
"But wha,4rnly. 'u L
Washingtery fine shad1 ctnt,n
at Dfd, land it iseoake ed ''t to
the 4,
tuyeI want to kng/ the price t..
Ia e" -. 8. >. cred ONT ~ 's Re
raised It h ii%Sa "a take it a~sy as Io
hall never Jury and extr Set such an DC 1es
And W, r oou he drove the sfewa e,
1T ofde s cprn and the shad waa
'teH Qua
IN BE- B. t litss Silk Hosiery. Wat
; taste in dress was s,' a woman of Lot
Knew of one pro ou. ner close Watc
r tnat she always bejs feminine te finely