Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-09-25

Grotesque In Appearance and Clownish
In Their Manners


larotesoue In Appearance aud CIowDish
In Their Manners.
Pigs, especially happy pigs, when not
too fat, but only well liking" and free
ito wander in big yard and forage for
themselves, are almost the most comic
of animals. Almost all the necessary
elements are present-fat bodies and
fat cheeks, twinlding eyes, tightly-curl-
ing tails, short, turned-up noses, voices
capable of expressing in a grunt in
tense greedy self-satisfaction, curiosity
and all forms of squeaks and squeals
for surprise, fear and panic. The writer
recently watched family of young
pigs, about IS inches long, just turned
out to spend the morning in meadow
and returned convinced that there was
hot a moment at which their appear
lance and behavior was not too conf
zeal for description. Each flower apd
Tweed was tasted by the little pigs with
the air of a eonnoisseur trying a new
dish, and whom they found horse "
ing asleep taking its Sunday rest the
whole litter stood In semicircle round
its head as if grouped to sing in a.
chorus.
Pigs are so funny, and everyone sol
thoroughly recognizes the fact pow that
ii seems rather odd that the discovery
should be so recent. There is plenty
of allusion to the pig as a filthy, ugly
creature in the east, and many old Eng
llish anecdotes of their cunning and
knowing ways about weather and food,
but except the pig-selling scene in the
IAcharnians, which is sadly wanting
in humoF, there is hardly any early
recognition of the comicality of pigs.
The reason is that it is only the mod
.ern improved British pig that is conf
cal. His alone are the round stern, the
lcurly tail, the short nose, the dump
ling cheeks and the fine, high spirits.
The wretched greyhound pig of the east
or of the unimproved breeds of Europe
mas not an atom of humor in him. Even
la young wild boar is a glum little fell
low, only growing lively as he grows
hungry. We owe the "comic pig" to-
the encouragement of the Smithfeld
show and the Royal Agricultural so
iciety. But there is room for difference
los to the humorous side OF animal life
in creatures which are not domesti-
Gated and have never changed.
Theowl is a case in point. The Greeks
looked upon him as a grave and wise
bird and assigned him to Athene. We
think his appearance comic, and in
common talk the owl represents be-
lwAdered, rather dense person, who can
not see the obvious. Though the Greek
TTf,Iar faalfVaar fa
exactly the same as ours. To call a
etupid servant "Ooloo" (''you owi')
would convey exactly the same meaning
in Indie as it would here. A physical
explanation is just possible. We and
the Hindoos think of the night owl,
% bird bewildered by light Athene's
owls, which are now sold in large num-
beers in London as pets, are little, wide
awake ground owls, able to see by day
as well as by night. Most people who
have watched penguins hopping on the
ground win own that when moving
about they are irresistibly funny. Their
little wings, like fat hands without
arms, round, white waistcoats, short
necks and short legs with little, fat,
black feet, make them bird edition
of Mr.. Picl5wicls. Their only movement
Is a series of hops, with the head bent
nervously forward as if they were afraid
of falling-which they are-and their
little wings stuck out on each side to
balance them. OF course, the penguin
has not the least notion that it is funny
or amusing, and is as Uncomfortable as
IA Chinese lady trying to walk across
a rice field. Puffins rank high among
the comic birds. Their makeup"
which is that of a city waiter, is en-
HANGED by the big red and yellow bill,
which is set on like Guy Fawkes' mask.
Young pufins, which have not devel-
oped this adjunct to facial expression"
are far less ludicrous to look upon and
have none of the exaggerated, inspector
Hke dir of their seniors. The Japanese
artists. who have a fine sense Of the lu-
licrous in nature, but usually read in
some portion of human wit into their
studies of animal life, show a proper APP
t,reciation of the comicality of the crab.
They cast bronze crabs in all attitudes,
the most effective being the enraged
crab sticking up its pinching claws in
q position Of defense. If their mechan-
hcal skill also allowed of a clockworlS
movement, by which the crab could
be depicted retreating sideways, with
his claws raised and swapping, these
works of art would be perfect illustra-
lions of the comic side of submarine
Hfe.-London Spectator.