The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1914-03-26
A PLAGUE OF RATS
 FRETS HOMETOWN

als Of Two Brothers Witllh
 Two Days Com. Luttgen's
 Detective SearchIigIlt.
 Bedding. March 26-In the Ridge Episcopal church where he hadworship- ped throughout his long life and Of
 which he was veritabIy a pillar, the funeral of stephen Sanford .was held on Sunday afternoon with an attenu- ance which in itself constituted no table tribute to the deceased. the sedi- fee being entirely filled by a gathering that comprised friends from NewtoWn, Easton, Bridgeport, Fairfield and other outside towns. Among the mournerS were Charles Sanford, the only sur viving brother of a family which mum bered six sons and four daughters, -Dunconb and Mrs. George Slerwood, the surviving sisters. The floral re- mernbrances were many and included some elaborate pieces. Rev. P. w. Boone. rector of the church. conducted the services but made no address, and an augmented choir sang Asleep in Jesus'' and ssAbide With Me" The pail bearers were w. Sanford, J. Arthur Sherwood. Philo PIatt and Geo. Beers. Interment was in the Ridge .0eemetery. On the afternoon of the preceding Friday occurred the funeral of Henry Sanford, a sbrother Of Ste-a sphen. with services sat the residence in Pleasant Valley. Rev. MT Boone of1ciated. The bearers were w. C. Sanford, E. F. Sanford, J. Arthur Sher- wood and Alex. watt and the remains were laid at rest in the family bur ial ground near the Valley.
 hometown residents have lately been comparing their afflicted state with that of Bishop Tattoo. whose wretch edIy tragical end is described in 
 Of a former generation. The Bishop was a German prelate whom droves of fierce rats assai1ed and devoured piece meal. this horrible fate coming upon him as a punishment for his hard heartedness in withholding his abun- 'dant stores of grain from the starv- ing popuIace during a time of famine. Matters have not yet come to such a dire pass with the Lonetown folks and Furthermore they are conscious of no sins calling for special retribution, but they declare that hguratively, if not literally. the rats are eating them up Certainly the rodents are devouring a good deal of their worldly substance, having Invaded dwellings as well as barns to an extent never before known afflicted are George and Albert Will l Hams and s. 6. Barnett, whose stocks of grain, maintained for their large cattle herds, suffered steady depletion 
 Barnett's residence the rats have even gnawed grooves in the hardwood floors. attracted probably by the oil dressing. In eanotheE house at the 1 Center it is not an uncommon incident for one or more rats to appear in the dining room and jump on the table to get at the food rernainIn g. after a
 meal. Elsewhere they appear surpris-9 ingIy and unaccounta.bly in rooms and places seemingly secure against their invasion. Cats, traps, poison and other destructive agencies, alt though productive of a goodly death harvest, have proved of slight avail Poison gets a good many but the ensuing odor makes the remedy as had as the disease. The trouble began several weeks ago and evidently came about through a migratory movement of 9 rat army which concluded that Lone- town was a, good place to encamp. One suggested remedy for the abate-
 nent Of the nuisance has not been tried because it seems so foolish, but if the situation does not improve re- sort may be had to it.. This proposed remedy is the writing of a. letter te the king of the rats setting forth the losses and annoyances the people have suffered and entreating them in the most courteous way to remove to some other locality. An aged colored resi- I Ident asserts that he has known of the employment of ta1is device in several Instances and that it never failed l Just write a polite letter of this kind. he says drop it in one of the grain j bins which the rats frequent and they will disappear as suddenly as they came.
 At their monthly meeting on Satur-
 day the selectmen will decide on date for the special town meeting to
 fix the tax rate and win also discuss the road repair work of the coming 1ox a;T- q tl1e largest appropriation ever voted for this purpose and are naturally de- sirous of securing commel lsurate re- suits Selectman Barnes, represent ing the eastern section of the town. } has already engaged NJ Joseph Su11i- van and 4. H. sanford to start opera tions with one. of the road machines as soon as conditions are favorable and plans to have them keep steadily at the job until about July I. adopting the policy in this respect which was carried out last year by Supervisor Blooner. Messrs. Sullivan and; Sam ford were engaged in like capacity last year and gave satisfactory Ser vice. The program for the other sec
 tions will probably be made known on Saturday,.
 Arthur w Stone, for the past ten
 years superfnf nfendent of Senator T.. o. Peck's 400 acre farm on Sunset Hill,
 has resigned that position and will re- moyef about June T to the farm in the South Center district in Newtown
 which he purchased about four years Esince. The property comprises about
 P acres and Mr. -Storne will run it as a dairy farm, probably engaging in butter making. Senator Peck was very sorry to lose Mr. Storne's ser vices and persuaded him to remain at
 Wiantinuek. Farm, as the Sunset Hill estate is known, for a month longer than the latter had intended
 l. When a magician undertakes to per form marvellous stunts under condt-