Long ago scientists proved that the rat family is one of the worst enemies of mankind. By nature the rat is an unclean animal, and, dwelling in multitudes as it does, in the most populous parts of cities, it is a constant menace to public health. Microscopic examination of fresh rat hides invariably reveals myriads of disease germs. Almost every contagion known to the medical profession may be communicated, or, rather, is communicated, to persons living in rat-infested neighborhoods. The methods employed by the San Francisco rat-hunters are simple, inexpensive, and most effective. Traps are being used, but ferrets and terriers are most frequently employed. A ferret is started into the burrow of a rat community, while three or four dogs are kept in leash without. The tiny ferret explores the galleries of the house, sometimes chasing a dozen or more rats into the open. Then begins the work of the dogs. The ferret is a bloodthirsty little creature, and is held in terror by most animals of several times his size. Three or four diminutive ferrets and a half-dozen trained terriers will destroy several hundred rats in a day. ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT!! MOTOR STORIES _A New Idea in the Way of Five-Cent Weeklies._ Boys everywhere will be delighted to hear that Street & Smith are now issuing this new five-cent weekly which will be known by the name of MOTOR STORIES. This weekly is entirely different from anything now being published. It details the astonishing adventures of a young mechanic who owned a motor cycle. Is there a boy who has not longed to possess one of these swift little machines that scud about the roads everywhere throughout the United States? Is there a boy, therefore, who will not be intensely interested in the adventures of "Motor Matt," as he is familiarly called by his comrades? Boys, you have never read anything half so exciting, half so humorous and entertaining as the first story listed for publication in this line, called ="Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel."= Its fame is bound to spread like wildfire, causing the biggest demand for the other numbers in this line, that was ever heard of in the history of this class of literature. Here are the titles to be issued during the next few weeks. Do not fail to place an order for them with your newsdealer. No. 1. Motor Matt; or, The King of the Wheel. No. 2. Motor Matt's Daring; or, True to His Friends. No. 3. Motor Matt's "Century" Run; or, The Governor's Courier. No. 4. Motor Matt's Race; or, The Last Flight of the _Comet_. 32 LARGE SIZE PAGES SPLENDID COLORED COVERS PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY AT ALL NEWSDEALERS, OR SENT POSTPAID BY THE PUBLISHERS UPON RECEIPT OF THE PRICE. _STREET & SMITH, Publishers, NEW YORK_ NUMBERS 1 TO 396 TIP TOP WEEKLY ARE CONTAINED IN THE MEDAL LIBRARY