Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-02-01
The Passing Of the Belgian Hare.


grecs and virtues of various rabbit
ries. and the rush Of people who We're
to engage in the new indus
try resoundcd through the land like
the tramp of Coxey's army. The
mails were filled with circulars de-
scribing the past. the present. and the
whose distinct mission il was to solve
the great food problem of the future by
feeding the hungry multitude with 4
meat of vastly finer flavor. and inf
nitely greater nourishment. than
either CHICKEN or turkey.
We recall especially one of these
circulars which was distributed broad
cast over Maine. 1t was q glowing
and eloquent document. \ man would
ments of appetite vino could read it
without his mouth watering. Indeed
so strong was it's influence upon the
salivary glands that it is said TO have
done Service in many quarters as Il
cure for dyspepsia in lieu of the ordi
navy peptOnic preparations. The
vistas that were opened up by that
circular were something marvellous
We beheld the belgian hare feeding
the great American multitude at cost
Of a few cents per pound. But even
here his mission had only begun.
After the statistician had shown the
immense amount of hare that would
be needed for HON. consumption. by
dwelling upon the extent Of our popu-
-lation. it's prospective growth. and
figuring. upon conservative basis,
the amount OF hare which would rea-
sonably be requisite to afford them
even one meal per week figures that
almost Outran the imagination-he
paused, while we grasped for breath.
and calmly turning a new page OF the
circular proceeded TO show US that
when at length this great demand had
would still be only in its infancy. He
then pictured to us immense canning
factories, employing thousands of we'll
paid workmen. putting up Belgian
hare meat in convenient form for ship
ment to the tropics, to the polar re-
gions, and to all parts of the inhabit-
able globe.
Thus we were lead to see that not
only the fortunate man who engaged
early in the business, and thus be-
came a millionaire, would be benefited
by the Belgian hare industry, but be-
You'd that would come the army of
workmen engaged in the canning fac
tories and the millions upon millions
O. people whose cost Of subsistence
would thereby be cheapened. But
when the Belgian hare had fed the
multitudes of men inhabiting the earth
he had only radiated a part of his
beneficence. No less valuable for the
uses of man was his beautiful fur. We
We're shown concluSively that the day
was not far distant when the sealskin
cloak would become a thing of the
past: when our fortunate wives and
sisters and sweethearts would be pro-
tected from the winters cold by gar
men,s of beautiful Belgian hareskin.
Men. too, would think Of wearing moth
ing else during the winter season, and
the question would never be asked.
Are you TO have new sealskin?
but. will you have 4 new Belgian
hare cloak"
This beautiful fur was also to be
used for the trimming of dresses, for
the manufacture Of caps. for the con-
struction OF dainty workbaskets and
cigar sets and for other uses too nu-
I1erous to mention. The skins of the
Belgian hare were also to be tanned
and furnish the leather of the future.
while his beautiful downy paws
would find an unlimited market as
flll1iItS Iol tulICis. CNNh tHN.'
the Belgian hare's mission was not
ended His bones would prove of
great value in the manufacture OF fer
tilizer, and a thoughtful Maine au-
thor, who has given much time and
re flee ton to the subject has suggested
that even his hous might be brewed.
We must confess that this circular
| wrought a strange charm upon us.
We found our digestion improved i'm
mediately. and retired to our couch
that night to sleep the sleep of the just.
and dream of Belgian hares.
| Can it be that this charming vision
was in itself a dream? II is painful
| indeed to contemplate such POSSIBLE
| ~. and still. for some reason, as yet
unex planned, the Belgian hare appears
to have dropped from public view. He
no longer occupies the center of the
stage. and the places that once knew
Kim now know him no more. Oh.
where can this charming creature be?