Pigs is pigs
By: by Ellis Parker Butler; illustrations by Paul Carruth
Publisher: Doubleday, Page & Company
Published: 1927
Place of publication: Garden City
Language: eng
Number of pages: 37
Description: The tale of a man who refuses to pay an extra 10c for the receipt of guinea pigs when he is informed that they have been charged at the rate for "pigs". The would-be owner writes numerous letters of complaint to the courier company, only to have tardy and unhelpful replies. During this time, the guinea pigs breed dramatically and the cost in feed and housing increases. When the word is finally given to call guinea pigs pets and therefore charge the domestic rate, there are so many guinea pigs that they must be shipped to the central warehouse constantly, and they are taking up room everywhere. The original owner has moved and doesn't ever get his guinea pigs. The tale ends on a bright note, with the courier man realizing that at least it wasn't elephants.
Notes: A fine tale about the nonsense of strict interpretation of rules and guidelines, as well as being a pointed comment at those who will only see the world through a narrow lens. The layers of bureaucratic bungling and silo behavior in organizations are aptly exposed in this amusing tale.
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