THE NATCHITOCHES POPULIST — AUGUST 02, 1890
Moultrie Observer:
The razorback is a breed of hogs raised in the South, before the war, and is still to he found in some localities, says a western exchange.
He is built on the Swiss cottage style of architecture. His ears lay back with a devil-may-care air. His tail has no curl, but hangs limp as a dish rag. The highest point of his corrugated back is 10 inches above the root of his tail. He ignores the slow, stately walk of the Berkshire, and goes in a lively, 2:10 trot. He always travels as if he was trying to catch a train which had just whistled for the station, and he had a quarter of a mile to make to get there. The thoroughbred razorback prowls around in the woods, living on acorns, nuts and roots, and if necessary can climb a tree like a monkey. Occasionally he crowds under a gate and assists in the harvesting of his owner’s corn crop, and if he has any time to spare from his owner’s crop, he will turn in and help his neighbor, often working at night rather than see the crop spoil for want of attention. He never knew the luxury of a sty. He wouldn’t get fat if he could, and is only fit to kill on the day of eternity. Crossing the razorback with the blueblood stock makes no improvement. The only successful way is to cross him with a locomotive going thirty miles an hour, he then becomes an imported thoroughbred and the railroad company pays for him at the rate of 50 cents a pound. The ham of a razorback is almost as juicy as the ham of an iron firedog; but not quite as good eating as sassafras bark. A man who is authority on razorbacks says a razorback is the only bird of prey that is amphibious in its habits and can lift a gate off its hinges without ruffling a feather.
From— Natchitoches Populist. (Natchitoches, La.), 25 Nov. 1898. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
