Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1886 — MR. BONNEY’S MICE. [ARTICLE]

MR. BONNEY’S MICE.

- 1 I i I ■ ■ r- f— -■ Bow on Italian's Industry Was Rewarded. Upon the conclusion of a wearisome search after authorities a coterie ol lawyers gathered together in the Law Library and diseased old times. Several interesting stories -were related, and finally one ’remarked: f’. "I think the best joke ever played in this city on any attorney in a practical way was on €. C. Bopney. It was shortly after the fire. Before that event he had an office at No. 156 Washington street, and updin rebuilding secured liis old quarters, two fine rooms, with such improvements as he chose to suggest. He was very nicely situated, and then, as now, did an excellent business. The only drawback to his prosperity was the fact that his office became infested with mice. The- vermin whisked about in every and had an especial fondness for the binding of the new tomes in Mr. Bonneys library. It was not legal lore they were after, but paste and mucilage. When lie would appear in court with his authorities stacked up the backs of his volumes would look as though they had passed through a peg-ging-inaohiue withthe pegs left! out; His fellow-lawyers guyed him with questions as to whether liis lore was as dilapidated as his books until ho became discouraged. “At that time there was a young Italian known as ‘Tony’ acting as janitor ol tho building. One morning Mr. Bonney called his attention to tlie condition of affairs. ‘My books are being ruined by the,se infernal mice,’ lie snid, ‘and I’ll give you 10 cents a head for every one yon catch.’ “The son of Sunny Italy had not been long in this country, could hardly talk English, but seemed to understand the financial proposition. In less than an hour he had obtained a job lot of 100 mouse-traps at 5 cents each. In the afternoon he nipped two °r three pounds of stale cheese from a neighboring dago shop foi- bait and in the evening business was started. The traps were placed in every room in.the block. The morning when Mr. Bonney entered his office a peculiar spectacle .greeted his vision. On the mantel above the grate were two rows of the little traps. Out of each one protruded the tail of a mouse that would neither gnaw books nor nibble cheese any more. Carefully and even tenderly he took them out. and by the caudal appendage carried them to the sink. He made an even fifty trips. came in he handed him $5, congratulated him on his success, and thought he would have little more trouble. -He believed they must be nearly exterminated, but was apparently ihistaken. The succeeding morning forty-five occupied the same relative positions, and $4.50 was forthcoming. From that time on until the end of thirty days the number decreased gradually until twenty was reached, though in the meantime the traps had been set in all the blocks in the neighborhood, and even in tlie court-house yard. Upon footing up his books Mr. Bonney found that the mice account was almost heavy enough to balance the receipts, they being more prolific than clients. He, according!)* sent for ! Tony’ again, and told him that thereafter he would only pay for one mouse per day. This continued for a month more, the mouse and dime being mutually produced, and then, finding his hooks were no longer injured, the agreement was dissolved by common consent. “I don’t know what has become , of that Italian,” continued the narrator, “but he is probably a Count now and the husband of some rich .American girl. At least he had thrift enough. ” Chicago Tribune.