St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1882-02-25
The RaZOP.BaCk Hog.
lFrom the Texas Siftings.


To the traveller through Texas one of
the strangest and most peculiar TEA
lures of the landscape is the razor-back
hog. He is of the Swiss cottage, style
Of architecture. His physical outline is
angular to a degree unknown outside
of text book on the science OF geome-
try. His ears-or the few rags and tat
tiers of them that the dogs have left,
are furled back with knowing, vaga-
bondish air. His tail has no curl in it,
but it hangs aft, limp as wet dlsh-rag
hung out of back window to dry.
The highest peak Of his corrugated
back is six inches above the level OF the
root Of his tail. He does not walk with
the slow and stately step of the patrl-
clan Berkshire, but usually goes III a
lively trOt. He leaves the impression
that he was late starting in the morning,
and is making up for lost time, or that
he is in doubt about the payment OF
that check, and is hurrying to get it
cashed before the bank closes.
The country razor-back prowls around
in the woods and lives on acorns, pecan
nuts and roots when he can spare time
he climbs under his owners fence and
| assists in harvesting the corn crop: In
| this respect he is neighborly to a fault.
and, when his duty to his owners crop
will allow, he will readily turn in and
assist the neighbors, even working at
| night rather than see the crop spoil Tor
| want OF attention.
He does not know the luxury of a
sty. He never gets fat, and from the
day of his birth, sometimes two years
roll into eternity before he is big enough
to kill.
Crossing the razorback with blue
blooded stock makes but little improve
ment. The only effective way to i'm
prove him is to cross him with rail-
road train. He then becomes an I'M
ported Berkshire or Polan-China hog.
and if he does not knock the train Oft
the track, the railroad company pays
for him at about the rate OF one dollar
pound, for which they are allowed
the mournful privilege of shoveling the
remains off the track.
The ham of a country raZor-back is
more juicy than the hind leg OF an iron
fire-dog, but not quite as fat as pine
knot.
The city razor-back differs from his
country relative only in the matter OF
the quality of his food, and in the
length of his tail. The city species
prey on the roots Of tropical plants and
other gafOon luXuFleS lHSGtdu VI COlH,
and eat cinders and old type in the
back alley instead of the acorns and
pecans of the breezy woodlands; that
are assimilated in the digestive organs
Of the country sus aper.
The tail Of the city hog has usually
been chewed off in early life by dogs;
in other words, it has been curtailed.
This, and the arid patches on his back,
where the hair has been scalded off by
the enraged boarding house cook, adds
much to the picturesque appearance OF
the brute. A man once told us that the
razor back hog was the only bird of
prey that was amphibious in its habits,
and that could lift a gate off it's hinges
without ruffling feather.
AS the novelist says, much night be
said on this very interesting subject"
but time is money, and we are forced to
conclude briefly with the following
"pome" by one Of the old masters:
Ye pigge he is pretty fowl,
And wOnd'rous good to eat;
Hys ham is good, likewise his jOwl,
And exc hys little feet
But if you try thousand yeare
trow you still will fayle,
To make a silk purse of hys care
Or a wissed OF hys tayle.