CONCERNING THE 

 ILLUSTRATIONS 



n 



Of some of the illustrations in this volume it may be said by 

 the censorious that they exaggerate ; that they are overdone, and 

 that there never were animals of the porcine tribe so nearly 

 perfect as the illustrations represent. There is but a measure of 

 truth m this, and persons familiar with the foremost animals of 

 the different breeds know there have been and are innumerable 

 individuals equal if not superior to any in pictures drawn or pub- 

 lished m good faith. In fact, a photograph, directly from life too. 

 owing to difficulties which photographers and artists understand, is 

 more liable to do the original an injustice tnan an artist's drawing 

 is to flatter it. It is no untruth to say there has seldom been made 

 a photograph, or its faithful reproduction, of a highly developed 

 domestic animal that was fair to the original until corrected with 

 pencU and brush and tool. Again, the illustrations which might be 

 cnticised as most extravagant are those of animals — when at their 

 very best— fitted and fattened to the highest degree that experience 

 and skill have made possible, and only those observant of and 

 familiar with such results and the means by which they are 

 produced know they are attainable. Those acquainted only with 

 the ordmary farm hog. in his everyday form and more or less 

 soiled apparel, can scarcely comprehend the extent to which his 

 high-bred, educated, and richly fed relatives may become marvels 

 of porcine beauty and behavior when bathed, anointed, manicured 

 and curled. It is as incredible to them as that a two-months pig 

 can be trained to walk and perform tricks upon a tight-rope in a 

 circus, yet this is a fact to which many thousands can bear witness. 

 ^ These pictures are not presented as illustrations of what more 

 than a rare few are likely to equal, but rather that students and 

 the ambitious may observe the degree of perfection to which im- 

 provement can be and has been pushed, and be assured that 

 similar achievements are possible because such possibilities have 

 already been many times demonstrated. 



^ To those unacquainted with the business of fitting and exhibit- 

 ing, too, it is but fair, if not clearly a duty, to say that the animals 

 seen at the leading shows may be considered as looking the best 

 that the best individuals in the hands of expert breeders, fitters 

 and showmen can possibly be made to look, with the best of care 

 and food, under the most skillful management, and without serious 

 regard for expense or economy. Also, that except in the hands 

 of others equally skilled and equally regardless of time, expense 

 and effort they will probably never look so well again. 



THE AUTHOR. 



