XXV 



MY FRIEND THE PIG 



Is there a man among us who on running through 

 a list of his friends is unable to say that there is 

 one among them who is a perfect pig ? I think 

 not ; and if any reader says that he has no such 

 an one for the simple reason that he would not and 

 could not make a friend of a perfect pig, I shall 

 maintain that he is mistaken, that if he goes over 

 the list a second time and a little more carefully, 

 he will find in it not only a pig, but a sheep, a cow, 

 a fox, a cat, a stoat, and even a perfect toad. 



But all this is a question I am not concerned 

 with, seeing that the pig I wish to write about is 

 a real one — a four-footed beast with parted hoofs. 

 I have a friendly feeling towards pigs generally, 

 and consider them the most intelligent of beasts, not 

 excepting the elephant and the anthropoid ape — 

 the dog is not to be mentioned in this connection. 

 I also like his disposition and attitude towards 

 all other creatures, especially man. He is not 

 suspicious, or shrinkingly submissive, like horses, 

 cattle, and sheep ; nor an impudent devil-may-care 

 like the goat ; nor hostile like the goose ; nor 



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