The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1889-05-25

puts wisp of straw in his
mouth to represent the porker thus
killed of yore.
Pigs were also sacrificed in Germany.
An ordinance of 1889 required every |
farmer to bring hog to the count OF
the manor as sacrifice, a white one
being preferred. There is an old tradi-
ton in Grimsby. Eng, that each citi-
zen who claimed his free rights must
present to the Mayor each year boar's
head, and the lord of the adjacent
manor kept a number of these animals
for the Mayor and citizens. In some
parts of Germany pig is buried in
the churchyard as an offering to death.
The phantom coach, seen in many
places in England, is sometimes drawn
by six black boars.
In Denmark the spectcr of SOW,
called the grave SOW" is freque}tly
seen, and always some disaster fol-
lows. In Thuringia it is said that sny
one who abstains from food on ChrSt-
mas Eve until supper time will see
young golden pig-an omen OF good
fortune.
In the middle ages, the boar hunter
was esteemed as a rare sport OF chival-
ry, and the destruction OF wild boar
was accounted brave deed. There are
many traditions concerning such
knightly achievements. One of the
Lords of Cheturde in Buckinghamshire,
Eng, killed wild boar which devast-
ated the country, and was granted
therefor yearly tax on all cattle found
within his manor from October 80 to
November z. The Poland boar tradi-
tionally haunted the north of England.
1t slew several knights, but was finally
killed by Polander. The Gordons
had the boar as cognizance on their
coat of arms, one of their ancestors
having slain celebrated one in 1898.
Guillame Compile de la Mardrey was
nicknamed '.The Boar of Ardennes,"
because he was as furious as the ami
NAL he delighted to hunt. Richard iii.
of England was called the boar, be-
cause his arms were illuminated with
that animal as cognizance. Gray
sings of him:
The bristled boar
In infant gore
Wallows beneath the thorny shade.
The same monarch was popularity
called the Hog, and a couplet ran thus:
| The Cat the Rat, and Lowell the Dog,
Rule all England under the Hog.
Catesby was the cat. and Radcliffe
the rat.
There are other curious stories about
the pig and sundry superstitions con-
nected with it. There is a popular
superstition current in parts of Ger
many, Great Britain, and in our own
country, that pigs should be killed at
full moon. When this is done the meat
swells in the pot; otherwise, if killed
during the waning moon, it will shrink,
and is, therefore. unsound.
Omens are frequently, drawn from
this most unimpressionable animal. 1t
was long ago considered an unfortunate
thing if a SOW should cross in front OF
any one setting forth on journey.
Crosse, an old English writer, says some
accident is sure to befall unless you
kept the animal from crossing until
you had passed. A SOW and litter OF
pigs was, however, a good omen. II
is in Scotland thought unlucky to meet
a SOW the first thing in the morning.
In Germany, If you meet a pig when
setting out, you will be unwelcome
wherever you are going, and it is also
q bad omen to meet herd Of swine.
Hollanders also dislike to meet pig
while out walking. Fishermen in many
parts of England, Scotland and ireland
abhor the pig. To meet one is SO un.
lucky that they will frequently return
for the day. A pig was secretly home
introduced into a fishing boat, but was
Immediately thrown overheard when
discovered. 1t must not even be
named when out fishing.
In Brandenburg. if, when a pig Il
killed, the spleen is found to be turned
over, it Is said to foretell death in
the family that year. 1t is said in
North Germany that if single mar
will, on Walpurgis night, ride on 6
broomstick to the stable. knock three
times, and then go the pigsty ani
listen until pig grunts, he may know
whether he will marry young or ole
wife, according to the age of the frs
grunter.
Hogs are also weather-wise. TIVE
English sayings are recorded as signi
of coming storm:
"How restless are the snorting swine,
!, Their litter is not tossed by sows unclean."
i. In the "Husbandman's Practice
Q86D we are told: when swine car
ry bottles of hay or straw to hide them