The Iuka vidette. (Iuka, Miss.) 1894-1912, 1909-02-25
Backwoods Philosophy.
Hurrah for the v1pErrEl Her

Aitl Gil AoA lltS LIE II IlCI
improvement is noteworthy and
indeed a credit to Tishomingo
county. As some seem to be ex-
pressing their several opinions in
her newsy columns, | am behoov-
ed to take up my pencil, for I am
out of ink, and if the gifted Editor
will forbear his wrath l will try to
elevate this slumbering generation
in few spirits a week of what
| call philosophy. First of all,
am stocklaw man, that is in
communities where the conditions
are favorable. This isan agitated
question and is not always carried
out in the spirit of meekness and
faith. Now, where | live Gin
Colbert) we don't have stocklaw.
neither would it be prudent to
have. Nearly all the people own
land and at least 90 per cent. is in
the forest and generally about one
fifth of the cleared land is unculti-
waited SO we have pastures where
our stock can satisfy their appe-
titles in half a day and go to some
cooling stream and drink, lie in
the shade, and swish their tails
at offending flies. The COWS give
plenty of milk for the family and
some for the razor-back pigs and
occasionally a chunk of butter is
sent to market. The sheep and
goats of course no law can be
made for them because they are a
law unto themselves. They thrive
anywhere there are plenty pine
tops, bones and old shoes. Now
as to hogs, we don't raise any
Berkshires, Gone one of my neigh
bors has one which makes occa-
sional raids on the flower beds
which always causes reproach by
the housewife) Poland China,
Ohio Improved Chesters, Northern
Spy, Ben Davis or Jerseys Eve
don't live on the railroad }, but
just the common razorbacked hogs.
Every fellow has twa(br three sows
and 4x6 pig peh, belongs to the
F. E. &. c. U. Of A. and raises
his, own meat. four hogs in the
spring and summer are confined in
the orchard and thrive on the
fruit which chances along their
way. Wh9n the fruit crop fails
they livs<bn herbs, roots, rotten
corn, and such wild game as is
within their reach. In the au-
tunn a new epoch begins. They
strike out for the mountains and
fare sumptuously on acorns and
hickorynuts. Some are so unfor-
tunate as to be confined to the
pen in August or September to
fatten for the years supply of
meat. Now, Mr.. Editor, we were
born and raised under these con-
ditions and it would be very hard
to have us swear off. /" 1t is
hard matter to learn an old dog
new tricks. We, who have been
eating bacon and beans, hoecake
and sorghum, and have always
had free grass and widow S
rights, = will be hard to convert
from our paths. As l said before
stocklaw is unsuited TO certain To-
calities. 1t is merely of sectional
benefit. 1t will not suit in eastern
Tishomingo therefore you may
expect lot of nays" from that
section. As rule, however, it
would be suitable to your county.
If not try awhile and perhaps it
will become acclimated. l re-
Gently went into Tishomingo coun-
ty and saw great deal of the
country. | saw great deal of
poor land, too. Fields were all
open, cattle, hogs, sheep, horses,
and goats all sharing the freedom
in common. They were tramp
ling its already barren soil under
their unhallowed feet and thus
rendering it less and less produc-
tive. Nothing was there for them
to eat They were just simply