The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1874-03-13
HOGS AND HOG Law.

reach the press In season. ~ ~ uo"
! offered for publication in the hope
that it may render the friends Of the
law more steadfast, and its oppo'
nents, if not advocates, at least will
ing to acknowledge some good in it
With deep regret have we learn.
ed that our newly inaugurated Coun-
ell are about to signalize thds ad.
ministration by the repeal OF that
most excellent ordinance of their
predecessors, known as the "Hog
Law J" again allowing that turbu.
lent animal to run at large, and we
are fain to lift up our voice in earn
est protest and remonstrance against
this blot upon civilized and en-
lightened community.
For the animal, we confess to no
especial likeing, be he tender suck
ling or full grown porker albeit,
affecting not the Jew as regards his
flesh, esteeming it moderately we'll.
as substantial and savory article of
diet. But this is the properly fed
and cared for hog, and not the gaunt,
long-legged, slab-sided, rOach-back-
ed, coarse -boned, grizzly, half-starv>
ed alligator, whom his master turns
out to prowl along the highways, and
pick up what precarious subsistence
he may there find, or break into his
neighbours field or garden, to seek
the food which his owner thinks too
little of him to give, SO long as he
can makesit out of some one else
Even under better circumstance, an
unruly, mischievious creature, he has
no business in any place where he
cannot be controlled and kept at a
moments call. A more unquiet, OBJ
stinate, destructive being, or one
more thoroughly possessed by the
devil, does not live than q street
hog. If you doubt it, try to drive
one from your field or garden, with
out the assistance of an able. bodied
dog, and you will probably become q
believer.
We know ofnothing more sloven-
ly, wasteful and thriftless, or so de-
moralizing, in small way, as this
too common practice of turning
swine loose to prey upon the COM
munity. The streets, the sidewalks,
the parks, are ploughed up, and the
citizen gradgingly pays his tax,
since he sees it no sooner applied
than brought to naught by raid Of
the Philistine hog. The household
er plants in fear and trembling, un-
less be has surrounded himself with
an impregnable fortress, for every
garden and field where they can
force or tunnel an entrance is laid
waste, and if not well guarded the
mills and stores are levied upon for
contributions to their carnivorous
appetites. And then, as to the rep.
utation for decency in public senti.
ment. What SO revolving to the
least tidiness Of disposition as vii
famous brute, with troop of squesl-
ing pigs at her heels, and the Shiny
ooze Of a puddle reekirg from their
sides 7 Look at the daubs Of mud
on every post and tree along the
highway, wherever they run A
burrow rooted up at every shady
place--a nuisance at every corner,
and their abominable shouts into
every thing filthy or obscene-a liy-
ing curse to all that rs decent about
them. Ishmalites among stock,
they are Stunned and hated by ev-
cry living thing when at large.
Yet tastes differ, and there are
those who entertain SO great affec.
ton for them as to plead for the
largest liberty to be bestowed upon
these animals. Is it altogether right
to favor you, to the detriment of
your neighbour Put yourself 10 his
place, and what is then the aspect
to you of the CASE There are GER
tain persons who delight in the gentle
music extracted from the gong and
bass drum, but they wouldn't be con-
sidered justifable in inhicting a con-
tinuous performance on those instru-
msnts upon their friends. There
are people who gulp raw corn wills.
ky, but that is no reason they should
force the dose down the throat of the
individual who prefers q delicate
wine. No, keep your pig to your
self, and 1t will be not only perfectly
satisfactory to your neighbor, but
more profitable to you.
Some, again, base their opposi-
tion to the law upon the great value
and necessity of the services Of hogs
in the capacity Of scsvengers. -
Such plea is scarcely worthy of SCI
rious consideration. Grant that they
are, to a certain extent, such, though
causing and leaving really about as
much as they remove, and is it not
a disgrace to any community laying
claim to civilization, or even COM
mon decency, which would permit
such filthy condition of its Streets
as to require such means9 More
over, there is, or was, az ordinance
prohibiting the throwing Of filth and
garbage upon the streets. In short,
through the whole Of our reflection
upon the subject, we have failed to
find any good or tenable grounds for
that great evil and nuisance-swine