Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1881-10-13
The HOG TRANSFORMED.
Beautiful Results that May Flow from
Mr.. oilbert's Theory and Practice.

Beautiful Results that May Flow from
Mr.. oiIbert's Theory and Practice.
New York Time.
An Englishman, Mr.. Gilbert by
name. has just written monograph
ON the pig which will do much toward
restoring that animal 10 his proper
place In society. II Mr.. Gilbert Is to
be believed. the pig has been treated
with shocking injustice. We have
made him dirty and loathsOme. and we
have then abused him because he Is
what we have made him. Everybody
has noticed the difference between new
and old pigs. The former are white,
clean. and decidedly pretty. while the
latter are as Objectionable as Russian
socialists. Ought we not TO ask our
selves II we are In any way responsible
for the transformation of the delicate
new pig into the revolving middle-aged
pigY To this question. Mr.. Gilbert has
an answer ready. and that answer Is
far from hattering 90 us.
In point Of pig Mr.. Gilbert Is an UNI
doaDtCd pelagian. lie holds that the
pig at birth Is physically and morally
pure. and that the faults and mud
that he afterward exhibits are due TO
the circumstances I'm which he is
placed. These circumstances are to
the last degree demOralizing. Men as
sumo that mud Is essential tO-the COM
fort OF the pig. and so takes pains TO
provide him with mud puddles. They
have the extraordinary theory that the
pig thrives only upon filthy food. and
so they feed him with refuse with
which they would scorn TO insult any
other animal. They are confident that
the dirtier the pig pen may be the hap
pier the pig will become. and they
bend their energies 10 building and
furnishing pig pens which shall be
dirtier than the steerage of an old fash
toned emigrant ship. We need not
wonder that the unhappy pig yields to
the force of circumstances and becomes
the loathsome beast that he undoubt-
edly u.s.
Mr.. Gilbert. as the apologist and de
fender Of pigs. asserts that we ought
90 adopt AN entirely new system of pig
culture. lie would have the pig pen
built after n design so truly artistic
that the daily contemplation of il could
not but refine and elevate the pigs
taste. The interior of this pig pen
should, according to Mr.. Gilbert. be
kept as scrupulOusly clean rs the spare
bed room of New England cottage
The pig should have n clean and com.
Portable bed-sIy n spring mattress
and his side dishes should be washed
after every meal. While wallOwing in
every form should be sternly discount
tenanced. the pig should have a daily
bath. and great care should be taken To
protect him from insects. Finally, the
pigs food should be of the daintiest de-
scription. and as the result Of this
treatment he would never lose the
neatness and grace which character
ICES HIM during his early pighOOd.
Having thus transformed the pig by
changing his surroundings. Mr.. Gil.
bert would make him familiar friend
Of man. That the pig has n good deal
Of intellect there can be no question
for there have been educated pigs who
have shown an ability TO work out
mathematical problems and 10 play alb
struse games Of cards which has chal.
lenged the admiration of mankind
Mr.. Gilbert maintains that the pig is
an afcctiOnate and faithful animal
and rs soon ~ he is taken by the foot
and assisted To- abandon the bad hab-
It's which have hitherto been his re
prOach, he can be made 90 take the
place In the household now occupied
by the dog and cat With prophetic
and enthusiastic eye. Mr.. Gilbert sees
the reformed pig Of the future sitting
up ON end ON the hearthway, and lick
ing his bristles with the assiduity OF
the dainliest cat lie sees the same
animal lying In the lap Of beauty, and
accepting caresses with far greater
show of appreciation than is ever
made by the pampered and conceited
lapdOg. To the scientific person the
domesticated pig will be Of great ser
vice IN doing mathematical sums. anC
To the sportsman he will be inval
liable. The full-grown pig is larger
and stronger than the lercest dog, and
as he has four times as much surface
of nose as has the ablest hound, hi
will probably prove keen of scent a:
we'll as bold and vigorous in attack
Thus he would fully take the place OF
every variety of dog, and if he can b,
taught To Kill mice, which is by M
means improbable, he would leave NJ
sphere of usefulness for the cat.
KS for his voice. we may feel certain
that 1t would be improved by cultiva
ton. Just as he wallows i'm the mire
not from any love of mud, but i'm orde
to rid himself of annoying insects. 5,
hc sings in coarse and unmusics
voice, not because he Is devoid of mn
steal taste, but because bad food an,
damp pens have injured his throat Mr.
Guberts system of treatment would
II Is expected, convert the grunt tina
now Oifends our ears into soft. mus
cal purr, rather louder than the purr O
cat, but much rOunder and softer i
tmbre. Thus the very last ground 70
finding fault with the pig as an in
mate Of the drawing-room and IN
companion OF men and women woul
vanish, and we should become so fon
uf the dear beast that we should neve
dream OF eating him. thus arrivins
though by an entirely different path, {
that total abstinence from swine
flesh which Moses commanded, an
which must 70 ever assure to that grea
law giyer the respect and gratitude {
men of civilized tastes.
Horse Breeding.
"A very important point in hors
breeding. says the Rural New YOrke
Is the use of only sound mares. TIL
whole country is infested with mn