Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-27
MARGARET MATHER.
The southern Rnzorbnck.

The Southern RazOrback.
A Raiser of Razorbacks" writes as
follows 20 the Country Gentleman.
'Nondescript" (see page 1922 is no sort Of
justifiable term 10 apply to the razor
back of the South. Certainly no other
hog has been so well and frequently de-
scribed as this most remarkable animal
1t is a whole show with the ludicrous
clown included, in itself. It is subject
Tor laughter, holding both sides" No
one, for instance could possibly witness
a steeplechase across the country, going
at breakneck speed and style over and
under fences razorback always easily
ahead, and only playing with his feet pur
suers, until finally a suitable rai-fence is
reached. when in the twinkling of an eye
the hog has deftly turned on his side,
and thus made himself invisible for a mo-
ment, during which, with the impetus OF
his gathered speed. he goes between the
lower rails, and the dogs, badly at fault,
look around and howl with disappOint-
ment.
Doubtless his bacon is tender and sweet.
for this creature lives on the fat Of the
land. His home is the wide world, and
his living is the best there is in it. No
thing is too good for him. He feasts on
the best the garden affords. The early
pea is his favorite morsel The tender
potatoes he roots for in every patch. The
roasting ear, in its young and virgin
sweetness, is his perquisite. The newly
laid egg in the roadside nest is his; and
so It is all through the list Of his bill OF
fare which comprises the best and
rarest, irrespective Of value and which
he gathers in without cost to his owner,
Id, .,cgv ,Igr
deeply wounded by the thoughtless be-
havior Of the razorback. complains OF the
latter's much too free acquaintance with
his property. The owner takes all this in
good part. simply remarking, in a tone Of
injured innocence, why don't you fix
your fences?'
"Why. man, what is the use? You see
that six and half foot tight board-fence
there. 1t was only yesterday your old
sow climbed over that fence and ate
I'D a brood OF chickens. caught and ate
young lamb, and then broke into my
crib and ate a whole peclt of ear corn.
No fence will keep that old SOW out Of
any place but yours. for as yet l never
saw her at home. She lies here nights,
and feeds here all the days and you could
not keep her at home because there Is
| nothing there for her 20 eat"
SAYS: Fright you are, even mouse
colored razorback's got some sense
with an emphasis on the some. Then he
goes his way, leaving the old sow behind
| him TO continue her visits to the unior-
tunate complainant
OF course. the razorback is healthy
| for he lives on the best the country
! affords and has the best Of appetite. The
gentle exercise of being chased by the
| dogs he enjoys, for at his VIII he Is
| able to outrun the fieetest dog in the
| country. He plays with the dogs, ana
| as he runs ahead. on the road like a
| streak. literally, he looks back and grins.
with his lips turned up at the painting
| pursuers. Then he slips through the
| nearest rail-fence. and stands quietly as
| tbe dogs fly past until missing him they
| return In an attempt TO find him. But he
moves not a hair, but grins with his lips
apart, showing the sharp curved tusks'
with which, when cOrnered, ne Is able 10
rim ont the bowels of a dog; and when
he is ready he goes his way, TO get a
meal out Of some other neighbors garden
| patch or corn-ield.
! He is the creature of his environment
| His business is 10 find living which his
! owner believes the world owes him, and
he succeeds in il TO perfection. He never
| tinction. and nature we know provides
| for the survival OF all her creatures
And so he lives. and at the end he dies
from the effects of ball from his owner :
rife. for want Of any other way of gather
| ing him in, unless, by the way, some Toe
! badly injured neighbor, reduced TO i'm
| patience by his wrongs, ends his days
| prematurely in q similar way.
| The Inconvenience of this methou %
| Z 10 he
world however. is such that there is
very great mortality among the race
| alleged 10 be due to the cholera, but
cholera could never kill this tough anc
to-the-manner- kind of pig. 1t is by
accident the greater part or them dle
..roisoned." as one remarked, by the ell
fects of lead in his insides. A little IN
stance in my experience goes 10 sho"
tba cost of making this razorback bacon
One SOW and her brood or hVe nan
grown pigs ate up last summer lhe con
tonts ~ half an acre of garden, one
acra Of sweet potatoes, 40 or more young
al,tcLs twelve hens and the COCK al
,,nknown number of young turkeys am
one old turkey hen; half an acre Oh coln
nIanted for seed, or an ihpro'eu 49, A,
costing a high price; fVe acres VI ~.
corn several panels OF gaIoeh en- =
| horde three acres Va LN'-'
Toto seed; wallowed in the spring uoHel
ines tnr and broke down the fence aroun'
- and tore down so much fence aroun'
he bav Meadow. and thus let her owner
oa,,s into the clover, that not Il sPed
wos left for hay. And this Is ohly
~ mall mart Of the cost Of her suinI ln,
S sum which, on the whole was nS' =
nert less than full dollar a pouhI I,o .
t ,be nies live weight Finally she ore e
80 The common disease mentioned, am
~ Family of five took the same dlsea ~.
n nel Sied one by one soon after the Oh
otber and the buzzards duly calie :
M f,neral. But Some others suI'iNeu
IA the race continues us hho' an
an so far, where your nnest o.ns
.anes Of pigs would starve' Inc S'ea Ia
raveo Of a razorback never mas gun
o~ nmgb corn 10 bread himsell tnrous
eno .9 The next crap" but borrows' anC
, u,lo' Me razorback relatives never re
'N What he borrows. o,,,e
pays RAISER OF RAzoRBAChS.
A Careful View.