34 
THE RAT. 
over with beautiful, long, curly, white hair. Such thingjij 
are not uncommon in that part of London, and the ladies 
passed on without heeding him. He followed, and repeated 
his intreaties, stating that, as it was the last he had to sell, 
they should have it at a reasonable price. They looked at 
the animal, and thought it a most exquisite little creature. 
The result was that they purchased it. The man took it 
home, received the money, and leaving the animal in the 
arms of one of the ladies, went about his business like 
an honest man. In a short time the imaginary dog, 
which had been very quiet in spite of a restless bright eye^ 
began to show symptoms of uneasiness ; and, as he ran about 
the room, he exhibited some unusual movements, which 
rather alarmed the fair purchasers. At last, to their great 
dismay, the dog ran squeaking up one of the window-cur- 
tains ; so that when the gentleman of the house returned 
home a few minutes after, he found the ladies in consterna- 
tion, and right glad to have his assistance. He vigorously 
seized the animal, took out his penknife, cut off its covering, 
and displayed a large rat to their astonished eyes, and to 
its own destruction. But Mr. Lee of course vouches for the 
truth of this upon the respectability of his authors, and con- 
sequently makes apparent two facts — first, that the ladies 
were perfectly ignorant of the peculiarity of dogs' teeth, &c. ; 
secondly, that the rat must have been a very tame one to 
bear so much handling. 
It is well known that the Japanese tame rats, and teach 
them to perform many entertaining tricks, and, thus in- 
structed, they are exhibited as a show for the diversion of 
the public. Indeed there is no doubt but, through the 
natural shrewdness of the rat, he might be taught to do 
many extraordinary feats. 
In Belgium, a short time ago, there was a company of 
theatrical rats, which went through dramatic performances 
with admirable success. They were dressed up like men 
and women, walked on their hind legs, and mimicked, with 
curious exactness, many of the ordinary stage effects. On one 
point only were they intractable. During the performance 
the manager had to bring in some food ; but the instant it 
made its appearance, they forgot their parts, the master, and 
the audience, and, falling on all fours, set to work most heartily 
