THE NEW ATLANTIS.

Evening Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2497, 16 February 1871, Page 2

THE NEW ATLANTIS.

To the Editor of the Evening Star.

Sir—A glorious clay is about to dawn on this hitherto benighted land. As we look back along the vista of time, \ye sep hpre and there, but only dimly, as faint light streaks on the dark background of the past eternity, the last lingering rays of the “golden age,” the time when men were honest and happy. Next came the “silver age,” when the world had deteriorated a little, but still vice prevailed not—misery was unknown The age of “brass” and that of “iron” followed in succession, during which the course of events has been from bad to worse, from disorder to confusion worse confounded The new age, as I have said, is about to begin—on February 21, or thereabouts. Its name is to be—uos taken from the metals as formely—and surely this indicates a vast improvement—but from the animate creation. In short, the election of Mr Reid as Snperin'endent will usher in the “pig and cow and age.” It appears to me however, sir, that the advantage in this good time that’s coming will be confined almost entirely to persons of a cow or pigkepp'ng turn pf mjnd. Mr Reitj, in all Jpg speeches and addresses, gives us clearly tp understand that the fanners arc the only persons that cao possibly be benefited by big policy. This being the case, and as I wish to keep up with the age, X have determined to commence farming at once. I shall begin in a small way, just with one pig : my wife has strong and unaccountable prejudices on the subject which will prevent my keeping more than ono at first; after a while no doubt wc shall do better. The fact is that we live in town, and <nir house, though commodious enough inside, has no ground attached to it fm a p : gsty proper j but wc have a room upstairs just above our bedroom which wc do not use, so I propose to accommodate the pig there for the present. My wife hints that the smell proceeding from the animal may possibly be somewhat inconvenient. In the present advanced state of chemical science, however, I do not think that this difficulty will prove insuperable; Powerful deodorising agents may easily b'e got, if necessary. The pig’s grunting was a great difficulty with mo for some time-—it would not bo pleasant to be awakened twenty or thirty times or so during the night but, having been from my youth of an inventive turn, I have contrived a most excellent now kind of muzzle for the pig, the principle of which I shall be happy to explain to any person who will favor me with a call. 1 should like to keep a cow,' but at present I do not sec my way clear to do-so. I have a relative, however, Mr D. Whose grandmother’s groat uncle was my father-in-law’s second cousin, and this gentleman keeps three cows, two at present in full milk. On the whole, therefore, I hope '.hat my keeping a pig and my being related to a nvin who has throe cows, will cause me to participate in tl)e good things of the pig-and-cow-kceping age,” and that) I afri justified therefore in signing myself, ’’ 11 Yours, &c., As AnmcvLTUßisT. P. H. It is to be hoped that soon after Mr Reid’s ace ssion to office, a modification of the 'Hundreds Regulation Act will he made to allow small farmers like myself the privilege of allowing our pigs and oows to mu about the town ; there can be no doubt that at the season tlie) may pick up a great deal of feed about the town, especially at the various apple stalls and greengrocers’ shops.

As, however, many people might object t their being alloAvcd to Avaudcr, wi Mr Held take steps to get, say the A reach Maoiaggan, Rattray, .and Princes streets pn claimed a Hundred.