Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-10

with the air OF a connoisseur trying a new
dish. and when they found a horse lying
asleep taking its Sunday rest, the whole
litter stood In semicircle round its head
as II gr ouped to sing in q chorus.
Pigs are SO funny, and every one so thor
oughly recognizes the fact now, that IL
seems rather odd that the discovery should
be SO recent. There is plenty Of allusion to
the pig as filthy, ugly creature In the
east. and many old English anecdotes OF
their cunning and knowing ways about
weather am food. but except the pig-sell-
ing scene in the Acharnians, which is sadly
wanting in humor. there Is hardly any
early recognition of the comicality OF pigs.
The reason is that 1t is only the modern
improved British pig that is comical. His
alone are the round stern, the curly tail,
the short nose, the dumping cheeks and
the fine high spirits. The wretched grey
hound pig OF the east or Of the unimproved
breeds of Europe has not an atom OF humor
In him. Even young wild boar is a glum
little fellow, only growing lively as he
grows hungry We owe the comic pig" to
the encouragement of the Smthfeld show
and the Royal Agricultural Society. But
there is room for difference as to the hu-
morous side of animal life in creatures
which are not domesticated and have never
changed.
The owl is 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 a bewildered, rather dense
person. who cannot the obvious
Though the Greek revered the owl. the
Hindoo feeling is exactly the same ours.
To call stupid servant colo C'you OWL
would convey exactly the same meaning In
India as it would here. A physical expla-
nation IS just possible. We and the Hin
docs think of the night OWL a bird bewil-
dered by light. Athene's owls, which are
now sold in large numbers in London rs
pets, are little wide-awake ground owls,
able to see by day well as by night.
Most people who have watched penguins
hopping on the ground Will own that when
moving about they irresistihly funny.
| Their little wings, like fat hands without
arms, round white waistcoats, short necks
and short legs with little fiat, black feet,
make them bird edition of Mr. Pickwick.
Their only NOV emept is a series Of hops
| with the head bent nervousiy forward as IL
| they were afraid of falling-which they are
and their little wings stuck out on each
side to balance them. OF course, the pen
gum has not the least notion that IL IS fun
| ny or amusing. and is as uncomfortable as
a Chinese lady trying to walk across rice
4 field. Pufiins rank high among the comic
| birds. Their makeup" which is that of
| city waiter, is enhanced by the big red and
| yellow bill, which is set like a Guy
| Fawkes mask Young puffins, which have
| not developed this adjunct to facial ex-
| preston" are far less iudicrous TO look
| upon and have none of the exaggerated in
| s.ector-like air of their seniors. The Japa-
| nese artists who have a fine sense of the
| lCdicrous in nature. but usually read in
| some portion of human wit into their
| studies of animal life show a proper ap-
| probation Of the comicality of the crao
| They cast bronze crabs in all attitudes, he
| most effective being the enraged crab stick
irg up his pinching claws in a position of
| defense. If their mechanical skill also al
| lowed OF a clockwork movement, by which
the crab could be depicted retreating side
| ways. with his claws raised and swapping,
| these works Of art would be perfect illus
| trations OF the comic side of submarine life.