The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-05-16


tain power by force and intimidation, to be
repeated at each recurring election, or by
conciliation at this most auspicious time
gain an ascendancy which will be perma-
nent. Respectfully,
VIM. D. EVINS.
SHEEP HUsBANDRY IN SOUTH CAR
0L1NA.
Mr.. EDITOR: I have been "keeper of
sheep" since STRIPPING, and speak know
ingly when say never knew sheep to
"die in debt" to his owner, save when it
was killed by dog. Sheep will subsist en-
tirely on noxious weeds, herbs and the SOUR
grasses that no other domestic animal will
eat. MY sheep eat about three bushels of
cotton seed, and small quantity of hay or
ont straw, each, during the winter, and in
some instances I have grazed them on diff
ferent fields, and fed them nothing from the
burn during the whole year. This first of
May sheared some sheep that ran all win
ter without any feed, except that which
they gathered in the woods, and these same
sheep will now bring five dollars in mutton
and wool.
The statistics of Georgia shows her per
cent. on investment in sheep husbandry to
be 63 upon an average notwithstanding she
has 2i dogs for each sheep. South Carolina
hos dogs for each sheep, (by count.) 1t is
net necessary here for me to figure more on
the profits of sheep husbandry, for it is
readily conceded by all intelligent farmers,
who have any experience in sheep raising,
that aside from the loss by dogs, their sheep
yield larger profit on investment than any
other interest of their farms. The question
just here is, why is it that all farmers do
not keep sheep2 The answer to this ques-
ton is the problem to which this article is
directed When We look upon that time
honored and world-renowned animal, the
sheep, We see just behind him the yawning
jaws of the canine destroyer, the dogs of the
irresponsible, who ere allowed by the laws
of South Carolina to kill as many sheep as
he chooses, and the owner of the sheep has
no compensation or redress save to kill the
dog if he sees him killing his sheep.
All our efforts TO foster and encourage
sheep husbandry in our State must be COM
paratively futile in the absence of laws to
protect those who would engage in it; for
until the "lion and the lamb shall lie down
together in peace" dogs will kill sheep.
IT'S true we have very Insignificant and
poorly enforced dog law in our State, which
is mere mockery so far as protecting sheep
raising.
Using the language Of Col. Polk, of North
Carolina: 1T has ever been an enigma to
us why our Legislators are so weary of this
question of dog law. We can only surmise
that it is like unto nightmare to the Cross
roads politician, and he sees no advance
merit to himself if he arrays himself in an
tagonisn1 to his unwashed constituency and
his affections for his yellow sheep-killing
pups." Will our coming representatives
make all effort to protect and encourage
sheep husbandry, or will they continue to
quietly tolerate the deg nuisance now Sc
prevalent?
The honor and dignity of the shepherds
vocation he's ever been established, for Abel
the martyred, the brother of the first born
OF the human race, was keeper of sheep.
BY this we may infer that the sheep has
been longer domestic animal than any
other animal. Abraham and his descen-
dants, as we'll as most of the ancient patri'
archs, were either shepherds or shepherds
sons. Job had $4,000 sheep, and we may
surmise that if there were any dogs in his
neighborhood his patience was tried by dogs
killing his sheep. 1t is said of Rachel, "she
came with her fathers flocks, for she KEEP
them" Moses, the future statesman and
lsw-giver, drew water for the seven daugh
ters of indian to weter their fathers flock
King David, the "hero, poet and divine,
SO loved his lambs, when STRIPPING, thai
he fought and killed both lion and a beal
that had taken one lamb out of his flock
| The wise. men of the East were shepherds
''abiding in the field, keeping watch over
their focks by night" when the birth oi
the Saviour was announced. With the
sacred writers they were the chosen symbo
of purity and gentle virtues; they were the
victims of propitiatory sacrifice, and finally
became the type of redemption to faller
man.
The modern English poet, Bloomfield, ii
one of his charming pastorals, describes the
clouds:
'Spotless as snow, and countless as they are fair
The beautiful senblance Of flock at rest"
Now, Mr.. Editor, we presume modern so
ciety in Christianized South Carolina is no
30 far advanced that it can object to quoting
few paragraphs from the Holy Writ OF
the dog. The first place remember of see
ing the clog mentioned in the Bible is Exc
dus IL but against any Of the children
of Israel shall not dog move his tongue
against man or beast" Again, in Deut
23:1S-"Thou shalt not bring ., O.
the price of dog, into the house of tn
| LUIu tllJ OOu 1OA huy WV AVA viva Dos'
these are abomination unto the Lord thy
God." Phil. 3:2-"Beware Of dogs, beware
of evil workers, beware of the concision.'
Mat. 7:6-"Give not that which is Holy
unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearl
before swine" &c. Rev. %: 15-"For with
out are dogs, 4 q, and whosoeve
loveth and maketh lie." See the attitud
in which the dog and sheep IRE held in tn
good book the dog is invariably the rad
n,ccum of the vile and the wicked, while Oh
the other hand, from Abel to the lovel!
poem of Mary and her little lamb" tn
sheep proves himself to be the utiii dulci
unto mankind. South Carolina, look int
the mirror (thc Holy Writ and see your
self. Farmers rise ye and ring aloud tn
alarm bell for Cerberus (the fabled seven
headed watchdog Of the gates Of hell !
now predominating in our land.
J.. C. SiTRIBLING.