Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 June 1879 — Habits of the Hog. [ARTICLE]

Habits of the Hog.

The domesticated hog does not approximate the habits of his pioneer ancestors in point of cleanliness. It is the instinctive habit of the animal to bathe in water and wallow in mud to counteract heat and as a protection against flies; but in a state of nature, when the mud has served its purpose, the animal cleanses himself by friction with the nearest tree; the filthy bed which the domestic animal becomes satisfied to occupy in a state of confinement is never occupied by animals running in the forest and given opportunity to make and change their sleeping places at will. In short, when allowed to provide for his own existence he exercises a more intelligent regard for his wants than is ordinarily exercised for him by his owner, who attempts to supersede instinct by reason. The newest thing in high art, girls, is to paint your brother’s clay pipe a delicate sky-blue, with a cluster of lilies-of-the-valley on the bowl. If you haven’t got a brother’s clay pipe, some other girl’s brother’s clay pipe will 4q as well, or perhaps better.