77. 



(This Diogenes, as every body knows, was an old gentleman who 

 fed on roots and lived in a s^^.) So one of our self-satisfied, in- 

 dolent, unproductive bipeds, Avho eschews work, riots on the indus- 

 try of others, and swills down potations which add to his laziness 

 and take from him the power to labor, might well exclaim, " If I 

 were not a well-fed gentleman, I should like to be a hog !" 



The hog slaughtered and denuded of his outer covering, makes 

 a grand and imposing appearance, with his hide neatly scraped 

 and shaven, his hind legs gracefully spread apart, and his head 

 hanging down, as if overcome Avith bashfulness at thus becoming 

 the admired of all admirers ! 



And, then, a day or two afterwards, it is a pleasant sight to be- 

 hold in the back kitchen or spare-room of the thrifty farmer, the 

 remnants of this modest animal, tastily arranged around the 

 room, and conjuring up delightful visions of feasts yet to come, 

 surpassing in richness of nutriment and delicacy of flavor, any of 

 which a Jeio ever partook. 



On one side we see a grave-looking minister's face, with round 

 checks neatly shaven, on the other a smiling spare-rib or a chop. 

 A shoulder is carefully hanging from the wall, preparatory to 

 being pickled ; and a symmetrically cut ham by its side, is })a- 

 tiently awaiting its turn to be smoked. Piled in a large platter, 

 and reposing on the dresser, are seen the feet, the ears, the snout 

 and tail, all ready and anxious to be soused. While other parts 

 of this glorious animal, skilfully prepared and carefully amal- 

 gamated : 



" In linked sweetness, long drawn out," 



are arranged with exquisite taste in festoons around the room, and 

 add a crowning glory to the whole. But my mouth waters at the 

 thought, and I must leave this part of the subject. 



Your Committee can say, with pride as well as with truth, that, 

 althoiigh not numerous, the pigs at the Norfolk County Agricultu- 

 ral Fair, by their exemplary conduct and plump appearance, have 

 reflected honor on themselves and the County. They are model 

 pigs ; wonderful specimens of the perfection to which pigs may be 

 made to attain in this progressive age. In every pen we have 

 beheld " Young America" in full blast. " Forward march " is 

 the. word, " the schoolmaster is abroad," and "old fogies" must 

 hide their diminished heads. There is reason for believing that 

 in a few years the prophecy will come true, that the ])rize hogs 

 at our Agricultural Fairs, will be but huge balls of blubber, or 

 jfenuine hoo;'s lard from the snout to the tail ! 



These hogs are unlike the breed of racers with long ears, long 

 bodies, long faces and long legs, which, comparatively a few years 

 ago, overran the State, and which even now may bo found, — rare 

 curiosities, we trust, — in some jiarts of the Cunnuonwealth ; hogs 



