A NEW START 21 



ing me in Houston on the day on which I was to 

 go on duty in Fort Worth. 



The position paid only a hundred dollars a 

 month also, but I thought it would give me an 

 opportunity to satisfy my craving for a change of 

 environment and so I wired my acceptance and 

 left for my station that night. 



Before leaving the State Veterinarian assured 

 me that he would be pleased to have me return 

 and continue in his employ if the government 

 position should be unsuitable. I am not sure 

 whether he made the assertion in good faith. 

 Nevertheless, I was back in Houston inside of 

 two weeks and he kept his word. 



Arriving at Fort Worth, I was put on hog 

 inspection in Armour's Packing House. Meat 

 inspection at that time, as governed by govern- 

 ment regulations, was a farce and in the light of 

 my opportunities in other fields, I did not care 

 to be a party to what I considered hoodwinking 

 the public. The reader must remember that this 

 was twelve years ago before the meat inspection 

 law of 1906, before the publication of "The 

 Jungle" and when congress was niggardly with 

 the Department of Agriculture and looked upon 

 meat inspection chiefly as a means of procuring 

 export trade. 



The climax of this part of my career was pre- 

 cipitated by a quarrel with the chief inspector 

 who persisted in releasing animals which I con- 

 demned, and I resigned. He had been in the 

 service so long that he had become calloused to 

 conditions which were repugnant to me. As 



