Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 235, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 October 1913 — KING OF THE RATCATCHERS [ARTICLE]

KING OF THE RATCATCHERS

London Man Who Failed In Prospecting for Gold Accidentally Finds New Profession.

London. —King of the ratcatchers and champion blackbeetle destroyer is the title conferred upon himself by a certain London business man. Otherwise he is Mr. B, L. Philips, of Messrs. B. L. & N. Philips, Limited. This id his story of how he undertook an odd business and came into his unique title: "Years ago in America I went pros pecting for gold,” he said, “I did not find gold, but something almost as precious. At that time we ware infested by cockroaches. But they always avoided the crumblings of the quartz. I thought there must be a specific reason for this shyness on their part, for they are not shy as a rule. So I called in an anlytical chemist, and together we investigated matters. "We had just finished our investigtu tions when the news came that all the kitchens of Chicago were overrun by cockroaches. I went to the chef of the largest kitchen in Chicago and said, ‘Let me clear your kitchen.’ “He was in despair, and said, ’lmpossible!’ / a,,. “ ‘Good,’ I replied. ‘This is where I arrive,’ and I drove the cockroaches out of Chicago. “And now, young man, one word of advice. I advise you to start a new profession. I have done that, and found it very profitable.”