The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1881-11-11
Tho Pig Transformed...A Thing
q Beauty and q Joy Forever.

An Enelishman, Mr.. Gilbert by name.
,as Just written monograph on the
oip which will do much toward restor-
no that animal to his proper place IN
society. If Mr.. Gilbert is to be believed
the MIG has been treated with shocking
We have made him dirty
and ioathsome, and we have then abused |
him because he is what we have made |
him. Everybody has noticed the differ
ence between new and old pigs The
former are white, clean and decidedly |
pretty, while the latter are no less OBJ |
Ought we not to ask our
selves if we are in any way responsible
for the Transformation of the delicate new
pig into the revolving middle-aged pig?
70 this question, Mr.. Gilbert has an
answer ready. and that answer is far
from fattering to US.
In point of pig Mr.. Gilbert is an I'M
doubted pelagian. He holds that the
pio at birth is physically and morally
pure, and that the faults and mud
which he afterward exhibits are due to
the circumstances in which he is placed.
There circumstances are to the last de-
gree demoralizing. Men assume that
mud is essential to the comfort OF the
pig, and SO takes pains to provide hlIA
with mud-puddles. They have the ex-
Haordinary theory that the pig thrives
only upon filthy food, and so they 1eG9
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 happier the pig will be-
come, and they bend their energies to
building and furnishing pig-pens which
shall be dirtier than the Storage OF an
.old-fashioned emigrant ship. We need
not wonder that the unhappy pig yields
to the force of circumstances and be-
comes the loathsome beast that he un-
doubleday is.
Mr.. Gilbert, as the apologist and de-
fender of pigs, asserts that we ought to
adopt an entirely new system of pig
culture. He would have the pig-pen
built after a design so truly artistic
that the daily contemplation OF it could
not but refine and elevate the pig 8
taste. The interior of this pig-pen
should, according to Mr.. Gilbert, be
kept as scrupulously clean as the spare
bedroom of New England cottage.
The pig should have clean and COM
Portable bed-say q spring mattress
and his table dishes should be washed
after every meal. While wallowing in
every form should be sternly discoun-
tenanced. the pig should have daily
hath. and great care should be taken to
nrotect him from insects. Finally, the
-nic's food should be of the daintlest de-
scription, and as the result of this treat
ment he would never lose the neatness
and grace which characterize him during
: his early pighood.
Having thus transformed the pig by
changing his surroundings. Mr.. Gilbert
would make him familiar: friend OF
man. That the pig has a good deal OF
intellect there can be no question, for
there have been educated pigs who have
shown an ability to work out mathemat-
ical problems and to play abstruse games
of cards which has challenged the adj
a,;ration of mankind. Mr.. Gilbert
maintains that the pig is an affectionate
and faithful animal, and as soon as nc
is taken by the foot and assisted tt
abandon the bad habits which have
hitherto been his reproach, he can be
made to take the place in the house
hold now occupied by the dog and the
cat. With prophetic and enthusiastic
eve, Mr.. Gilbert sees the reformed pie
of the future sitting up on end on tht
,hearthway, and licking his bristles witt
the assiduity of the daintiest cat. Ht
sees the same animal lying in the lap o
beauty, and accepting caresses with
far greater show of appreciation than i
ever made by the pampered and con
ceited lap-dog. To the scientific per
son the domesticated pig will be o
great service in doing mathematics
sums, and to the sportsman he will b
Invaluable. The full-grown pig is large
and stronger than the tiercest dog, an
as he has four times rs much surface Q
nose AS has the ablest hound, he woul
probably prove to be keen of scent a
we'll as bold and vigorous in attack
Thus he would fully take the place
every variety of dog. and if he can b
taught to kill mice, which is by n
means improbable. he would leave n
-snbere of usefulness for the cat.
AS for his voice, we may feel certal
that it would be improved by GUILTY.;
ton. Just as he wallows in the mir
not from any love of mud, but in ordt
to rid himself of annoying insets, so
sings in coarse and unmusical voic'
not because ne is devoid of music
taste. but because bad food and dam
pens have injured his throat. Mr.. vi
bert's system of treatment would, it
expected, convert the grunt that no
,offcnds our ears into a. soft musical pun
rather louder that the purr of a cat, b
much rounder and softer in timbr
Thus the very last ground for iindlI
fault with the pig as an inmate OF Il
drawiny-room and companion of M
and women would vanish, and '
should become so fond of the dear bes
shat we should never dream OF eatil
him. thus arriving, though by an
tirely different path, to that total abs
nence from swine's flesh which Mos
commanded. and which must fore'
assure to that great law giver the
spect and gratitude of men of civiliz
Stastes.-N. 7. Times.
Saliva and Snake Poison.