The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1896-02-13
HOG KILLING IN THE SOUTH.
A Momentous Event In the Households on
the Plantations.

Some persons are prejudiced
against the flesh Of the hog. Scien-
tific men hint of bacteria; physicians
pronounce against pork, and dis
eliminating fathers and mothers de-
bar it from their tables. Down south,
however, mo such prejudices obtain.
There it is still the custom to eat
literally of backbone stew, hogs
head cheese. soused pigs feet, scrap
pie, brain souffie and other delecta-
BILE dishes, with a reckless disregard
Of consequences. Yards and yards
of linked black buildings and sau-
sages are prepared and eaten there,
and the people pronounce them good.
Rows on rows of sides, hams and
shoulders are swung from the raft
ers of dim smokehouses, there to be
| cured with the wholesome fumes of
a carefully tended oornoob fire, al
ternately burning and smoldering,
in accordance with the undertaking
rules.
Hog killing on the plantation is
an event attended with ceremony
and excitement. Even housewives
arrange their social engagements
with reference to its demands.
eve can't come next week be-
cause we are going to kill, a soft
voiced matron viii say.
1T may thaw and you can't kill, "
somebody suggests, but the mistress
shakes her head, contending that it
is the right time of the moon, and
all will be well.
The excitement begins in the
kitchen when the aged pig sticker,
imbued with a sense of the impor-
lance of his Office, goes to interview
the cook as to the particular knives,
pals and dishpans she can spare for
an indefinite time. In the beginning
she tells him that she can't spare
any, and in the end she let's him
have everything he wants, but he
acquires each article with a distinct
struggle and after promise to bring
it back when he is done with it, a
promise which she knows of old he
will not fulfill. Possessed of the
murderous weapons, he is ready for
the killing.
A veil may be drawn over the ex-
ecution and the attendant ceremo-
MES. The next day brings with it
more excitement. The scene is the
same corner of the yard. The sau-
sage grinder is got out, scrubbed w
and screwed down firmly to the big
deal table, where strong black arms
are severing tbs fat from the lean,
pink meat, carving it into long
strips, and cutting it's white pulpi
ness into smooth, equal squares, tc
be rendered into lard. The long han
died suffer, black and shining, j:
set up on stand of it's own, and 1
round faced maid and experienced
manner are appointed to manipu
late it, the mistress experimenting
the delicate task of seasoning.
The big black pot is filled will
bubbling squares of white, and
thick WASTED, handkerchief turban
ed negress stands near, armed will
a big strainer to drain off the larC
and preserve the precious cracklings
The sable high priest who shed 81
much blood at the killing is again
on hand, his head bound up in ap
proved fashion and his hands busy
scraping the pink toed feet. There
are more pairs of feet awaiting hi:
hands, besides the heads to be pre-
pared for the scrapple and cheese.
Somebody run and git me hand
full oh turnips outen de patch; di:
yere chine will make fine stew, ,
says the cook, and then she picks
out some of tho spareribs for broil
ing and tells the old swineherd te
hurry up with the feet so she will
not have to be the whole afternoon
over them.
II dunno how tits, but we never
see none oh dem big calabash gourt
nowadays, like we used to have fol
packin down lard. 1t pears like de
seed must "a run out" observes the
woman at the sausage suffer.
well! de people all buy tin car
and jar and things, spendin dere
money like it wasn't hard to git
dat make de Lord stop dem big gourd
from GROWN, says the pig sticker
Oats jist where you're right
Mr.. Beasely,' says the cracking
strainer. "Dey even buys broom
outen de store when dc tall broom
grass jist a-wavin at 'em in de field
SIGH fool ways is ruination to mig
gers. New York Sun.
Most Wonderful City.
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