The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-28

perior in size. In going over T.a,h..S.
nopsls for this purpose, we have fonnd ~.
largest individual of each gems 10 4. :,
much the greater number of instance. an
exclusive inhabitant of the western con,;-
hen'' and nothing but settled resoln,;o,
OF wishing every fact into conform;tv
WIN ms own Preeonreived theories couII
nave led 'nat great aHgjestati nature par in.
s'n,um i'',o s"eh f"onstroUs hallucInations
But let that pass: we VII stiIl .do;. D,r
IN as poet, thong we shah 's;va rn DUH
tt his philosophical peryez5Tsifies. M, sei
was ROB kan assigning him a rank "ontel
those writer's who deal in works of pImaong
although the naturalist displayed no less a.
tonlshment than disdain at wha. he tbonoh,
80 preposterous an estimate of his pswere .
just the antthesis of the poor Bourgeo;,
gent'lhomme he was amaz ed to hear he had
been talking poetry all his life.
We have remarked that eagles are scarce
compared with other birds, and il is wen
they are so. What rayage and destruction
wonld be the necessary consequence other
existing in numbers aBy way Comparable to
those of most others of the feathefed crea-
ton! An eagles talons have power equal
TO the claws of a tiger, to say nothing of
his sharp, horny beak, and long wings, the
last of which, be 1t known, would be found
sufficient TO break the legs of the sturdiest
clown that ever kicked. We have seen
some of these flying monsters seven feet in
extent; a six-footer is no chicken, as we
ave constrained to asseyerate too from per-
sonal experience, having had the temerity
upon time, when we had shot him with
ten leaden slugs and brought him to the
ground, to set foot upon his talons, thereby
receiving clutch from the expiring animal
which pierced through half an inch of spe-
clal sole leather and put ms within hairs
breadth OF the lock,jaw. We know not if
an army of lions would be more formidable
than flock of hungry eagles, sensible of
their strength, and carrying on war in a
body. But the eagle is solitary bird and
although occasionally seen in company with
one or more of his species about waterfall,
or the shallow margin of lake, seems
merely to he drawn to a common locality in
pursuit Of food, and not from any feeling
which indicates social disposition. This
preference for n solitary life seems TO have
been aimed at by nature in the domestic
economy of the eagle one egg only is laid
IN the eagle's nest; he consorts with no
equal in youth he has no brother and is
like no brother; he is brought up az one
who is all the world to himself; consequent
ly your eagle is neither n cooperative in
peace, nor a commilitant in war, but tolls
unaided and undefended, and PUSHES to bat
tie IN the spirit of Yankee soldier, eight
ing on his own hook"
THE WHOLE Hoe. The very common
phrase in the Western Country, " Go the
whole hog" is said to have had its origin
from the following "The citizens of the
middle States on the waters of the Ohio
and It's tributaries speculate largely in the
animal, The whole of wbiclI seems to be
the subject in question, and find their mar
ket for immense quantities among the cotton
and sugar planters of Mississippi and Louis
lana. They convey the article in fiat boats
fifteen hundred miles down the river 20 the
purchasers, sometimes alive, and fattening
as they descend. sometimes in barrels. hot
for the domestic market generally in hulk,
which means killed and cut into sides,
shoulders, hams, heads, and hooks, and salt
ell IN an immense pile in the boat. Now it
must be evident that such a variety of piec-
es must have IN equal variety If pmchas-
ers, which Is n fact the case, ant! the pur-
chaser, on laqpiring. is told that hams are
81, shoulders 5, sides At, head and back 3.
Tut the hog round. or GO the whole hog, and
you shall have 1t at 44.-BoStoa transcript.
"a WI 0I Transcript saws,
"The foregoing account of the origin Of the
above saying, is incorrect. 1t arose in the
following manner. 1t is well known. hogs
are very plenty, in the western country.
When the season for Strengthening arrives,
the farmer dresses his hogs, as they call it,
and in general, without a cent in his porket
arrives at Louisville nr some principal set
tlement, in that part of the country here
he meets, among other adventures, specu-
lators in cotton. who usually have plenty Of
money. So great is the thirst, among these
people for gambling, playing "eld sledge,"
as 1t is called in Virginia, that the farmer
must have "touch at it" before he has had
time to sell his hogs and realize his cash.
So, as soon as he sees the s'Cotton Man."
he exelaims, stranger, what say you to a
touch at old stedge?" Done, stranger-and
they are seated at once. The farmer starts
fair and says, "1've no money yet, haven't
sold," and, after showing him schedule of
the weight of his hogs, with fair price, al
ways " honor bought" nov" says he, ''my
quarter hog is SO much" and planks his scrip,
when the section man" planks his money.
They play with alternate success; but, on
one occasion, a farmer, who had brought a
number Of large hogs to market, had, by
quarters and halves, played away all, except
one which weighed over 400 weight. "Well"i
said the Cotton man." "what will you 60
now ?" "Go," said the farmer, "panthers
and alligators I'll 60 the whole hog"
You SHALL SwEAR-AND you sHAN'T
SWEAR! What bundle of contradictions
are the laws of christian countries in rela-
tion to eaths They require you in Court
Of Justice to swear upon the Evangelsts;
while, in those very Evangelists, the author
of the Christian religion has said, "Swear
not at alp Here IS fiat contradiction,
and mockery of the Scriptures. Every Of
flee, from the highest TO the lowest, is enter
ed upon with swearing. The King, Presi-
dent, or other chief magistrates, swears.
His prime minister, his inferior ministers,
secretaries, or whatever they are called, all
swear. Every officer ofgovernment, wheth-
er civil or military, swears. The pettiest
tide waiter, or mail carrier, takes as big an
oath as the President himself Legislators
swear, judges swear, jurymen swear, wit
nesses swear(and some of them confounded-
ly, too,) lawyers, constables, and-black-
guards swear! and every body swears ex-
cept the Quakers. If man in gay coat and
ruffie shirt, will not swear in court of JUS
tire ha 10 nunished for rontnr.ocv and con-