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Pigs Is Pigs
Pigs Is Pigs
Pigs Is Pigs
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Pigs is Pigs cover when published in 1905 by Railway Appliances Company (Chicago) without permission. Most copies were destroyed.

"Pigs Is Pigs" is a story by American writer Ellis Parker Butler. First published as a short story in American Illustrated Magazine in September 1905, "Pigs Is Pigs" went on to dozens of printings as a book and in anthologies over the next several decades.

Plot

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Railway agent Mike Flannery wants to charge the livestock rate for a shipment of two guinea pigs and refuses to accept the lower pet rate, saying "pigs is pigs." Flannery believes that the "guinea" is an indication of the pigs' national origin. He argues that they should bear the higher freight charge of 30¢ for livestock, rather than the lower 25¢ for domestic pets. In support of this, he submits that if they were "dago pigs" or "Irish pigs," there would be no question of the animals' status.

Because the customer refuses to accept delivery, Flannery is forced to feed and house what he now calls the "dago pigs" in his office. When he eventually receives instructions to accept the lower price, he discovers that the customer has moved. He is then instructed by his superiors to return the pigs to the company warehouse. By this time, the guinea pigs have reproduced exponentially in Flannery's station house. After returning all the descendants, Flannery resolves to charge the lower rate for any future livestock.

Adaptations

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The story was made into movie form several times, including the Walt Disney cartoon in 1954 that was nominated for an Academy Award for Animated Short Film. The 1937 Merrie Melodies cartoon Pigs Is Pigs, directed by Friz Freleng, is not an adaptation of the Butler story.

Inspiration of other works

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The rapid reproduction of the guinea pigs and their near overrunning of a facility is mirrored by the Martian flat cats in the Robert A. Heinlein novel The Rolling Stones. Heinlein admitted he took inspiration from Butler but never plagiarized him.[1] In a note to David Gerrold over the similarity of Star Trek's tribbles to his flat cats, Gerrold claims that Heinlein wrote to him, “we both owe something to Ellis Parker Butler...and possibly to Noah.”[2]

References

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Pigs Is Pigs

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from Grokipedia
"Pigs Is Pigs" is a humorous short story by American author Ellis Parker Butler, first published in September 1905 in The American Magazine, that satirizes bureaucratic obstinacy through the misclassification of guinea pigs as livestock by a railway shipping agent. The narrative follows Mike Flannery, the agent for the Interurban Express Company in the small town of Westcote, who receives a shipment of two guinea pigs intended as pets for customer Mr. Morehouse. Insisting that "pigs is pigs" regardless of size or type, Flannery charges the higher livestock rate of 30 cents per guinea pig instead of the 25-cent pet rate, sparking a dispute that escalates when Morehouse refuses payment and abandons the shipment. As the company deliberates the proper classification through layers of correspondence, the guinea pigs rapidly multiply in Flannery's care, growing from two to over 4,000 in number and costing him significant expenses for food like . Flannery's literal interpretation of the rulebook—"Pigs is pigs"—highlights the absurdity of inflexible , turning a minor shipping error into a chaotic proliferation that overwhelms the station. The story resolves with the guinea pigs finally shipped at the lower pet rate after the company's prolonged indecision, leaving Flannery frustrated but triumphant in his initial stance. Upon its release, "Pigs Is Pigs" achieved immediate and widespread popularity, becoming Butler's most famous work and leading to its publication as a standalone in by McClure, Phillips & Co., with dozens of subsequent printings and inclusions in anthologies. The tale's themes of rule-bound inefficiency resonated during an era of expanding railroads and administrative growth, influencing discussions on in . Its success propelled Butler's career, though he wrote over 2,000 pieces, this story remains his signature contribution to humorous . The story has inspired numerous adaptations, including silent films in 1910 and 1914, an early animated cartoon in 1917, and a prominent 1954 Walt Disney animated short directed by Jack Kinney, which faithfully adapts the plot in verse form and was released theatrically on May 21, 1954. These versions extended the story's reach, emphasizing its comedic elements of exponential growth and official pedantry to broader audiences through visual media.

Background

Author

Ellis Parker Butler was born on December 5, 1869, in , and died on September 13, 1937, in Williamsville, Massachusetts. A prolific American , Butler authored more than 30 books and over 2,000 stories and essays throughout his career, establishing himself as one of the most published writers of the era. His works appeared in over 225 magazines across more than 40 years, reflecting his dedication to short-form literature and his involvement in New York City's literary circles, including as a founding member of the Dutch Treat Club and the Authors' League of America. Butler's writing style emphasized light-hearted, folksy humor drawn from the absurdities of everyday American life, often incorporating dialect, chaos, and optimistic satire reminiscent of . "Pigs Is Pigs" remains his most renowned work, exemplifying his talent for highlighting bureaucratic follies through relatable scenarios. Butler composed his stories during the early , a time of rapid railroad expansion and burgeoning bureaucratic systems in the United States, which provided fertile ground for his satirical observations.

Publication History

"Pigs Is Pigs" first appeared as a in the September 1905 issue of , marking a pivotal moment in Ellis Parker Butler's career. The tale's humorous take on bureaucratic mishaps resonated immediately with readers, leading to swift syndication in various newspapers across the . Prior to the official book release, an unauthorized pamphlet edition was published in December 1905 by the Railway Appliances Company, printing 10,000 copies without permission; most were subsequently destroyed following a lawsuit. Following its initial acclaim, the story was reprinted in dozens of anthologies and periodicals, cementing its status as a staple of American humor. In April 1906, McClure, Phillips & Co. published an expanded book edition, illustrated by Will Crawford, which further amplified its reach. This version underwent multiple printings, including editions by A.L. Burt Company and international releases by Hodder and Stoughton, reflecting the story's enduring demand. The publication propelled to national prominence, with the book achieving remarkable commercial success; by the early , himself estimated its circulation at one million copies. Sales figures reportedly exceeded 100,000 copies within the first few years, providing with financial security that enabled international and sustained his prolific output. As a work from 1905, "Pigs Is Pigs" entered the in the United States on January 1, 2001, due to the expiration of its . It is now widely accessible in digital formats through archives like , ensuring its availability to contemporary audiences without restriction.

Story Elements

Plot Summary

Mike Flannery, the agent at the Westcote station of the Express Company, receives a shipment of two s consigned to Mr. Morehouse, who intends them as pets for his family. Morehouse offers to pay the pet rate of 25 cents per , but Flannery classifies them as and demands the higher rate of 30 cents each, famously declaring, "Pigs is pigs." When Morehouse refuses to pay the increased fee and leaves without the animals, Flannery withholds their release pending clarification from the company's headquarters. As the dispute drags on through bureaucratic correspondence between Morehouse, Flannery, and various company departments, the guinea pigs begin to multiply rapidly in the express office. Their numbers grow exponentially—from two to eight, then 32, 160, 800, and eventually over 4,000—leading to chaos as Flannery struggles with overcrowded space, daily feeding costs for cabbage and other provisions, and the construction of makeshift shelves to accommodate the expanding population. Flannery's stubborn adherence to protocol, delivered in his Irish brogue, only heightens the frustration during ongoing communications. Eventually, the Audit Department rules that guinea pigs are to be treated as pets at the 25-cent rate. However, by this point, Mr. Morehouse has moved from Westcote without leaving a forwarding address, so Flannery ships the overabundant thousands of guinea pigs in numerous cases to the company's main office in Franklin, turning the simple transaction into a comically excessive delivery.

Characters

Mike Flannery serves as the and central figure in "Pigs is Pigs," acting as the agent for the Express Company at the Westcote station. He is depicted as an Irish-American with a thick brogue, evident in his such as "Pigs is pigs" and "Guinea-pigs, or dago pigs or Irish pigs is all the same to the ." Flannery's traits include stubbornness and a literal-minded adherence to rules, making him pedantic in interpreting shipping tariffs and refusing to classify guinea pigs as anything other than pigs, which drives the story's conflict. Mr. Morehouse functions as the primary customer and to Flannery's , shipping two guinea pigs intended as pets for his son. He is portrayed as a frustrated , reacting with and to the escalating charges, calling Flannery an "everlastingly stupid " and decrying the situation as "an outrage." His role highlights the clash between ordinary expectations and rigid official procedures. Supporting characters include distant headquarters officials, such as those in the Tariff Department led by Mr. Morgan and the company president, who intervene remotely to resolve the guinea pig classification dispute but ultimately defer to regulatory interpretations. Minor office helpers, like the stenographer Miss Kane, appear briefly in administrative scenes, assisting with correspondence amid the chaos of the multiplying animals. The guinea pigs themselves act as non-speaking catalysts in the narrative, starting as two shipped items that rapidly multiply to 4,064 due to their unchecked in the station, forcing Flannery to confront the practical consequences of his literal rule-following.

Themes and Analysis

Bureaucratic Absurdity

"Pigs Is Pigs" exemplifies the core theme of bureaucratic absurdity through its portrayal of rigid rule adherence in early 20th-century American railroads, where a minor dispute spirals into chaos. The story centers on railroad Mike Flannery, who insists on charging the higher freight rate for two guinea pigs shipped by customer Mr. Morehouse, classifying them as "pigs" rather than "pets" per company tariffs, despite their small size and domestic nature. This decision, grounded in the policy to err on the side of the higher rate in cases of doubt, prevents immediate shipment and sets off a chain of events illustrating how inflexible regulations can amplify trivial issues into farcical crises. The escalation arises from Flannery's unwavering commitment to protocol, as he refuses to release without explicit approval from company headquarters, leading to their unchecked reproduction from two to over 4,000 guinea pigs over the course of several months. This serves as a for the unchecked consequences of bureaucratic , with the creatures overwhelming the station and eventually requiring a full for transport. Delays in communication between the local office and distant departments—such as Claims, , and —underscore the real-world that paralyzes decision-making, turning a simple transaction into an institutional nightmare. The critiques how such systems prioritize procedural purity over practical outcomes, forcing all parties into absurd positions. This satire reflects broader frustrations with corporate monopolies and inefficient regulatory frameworks in the railroad industry, which dominated American transportation and often imposed arbitrary rates and practices on the . During this period, railroads faced intense scrutiny for their monopolistic control and bureaucratic excesses, prompting reforms like the of 1906 to empower federal oversight of rates and curb abuses. Butler's tale captures the era's discontent with how large-scale enterprises, insulated by layers of administration, exacerbated everyday inefficiencies and highlighted the need for more responsive governance.

Humor and Satire

The humor in "Pigs Is Pigs" primarily derives from situational , as the two guinea pigs shipped by Mr. Morehouse rapidly multiply into thousands due to bureaucratic delays, overwhelming railway agent Mike Flannery and turning the station into a chaotic . Flannery's escalating panic is depicted through his frantic efforts to contain the proliferating animals, such as constructing makeshift galleries and baskets overflowing with the creatures, which amplifies the of the escalating . This comedic buildup culminates in the station being inundated with over 4,000 guinea pigs, highlighting the unforeseen consequences of inaction. Dialect humor enhances the story's levity through Flannery's Irish brogue, which infuses his with phonetic quirks and malapropisms, such as his insistent , "Pigs is pigs," uttered with stubborn literalism against the company's attempts to classify the animals as pets rather than . This verbal exuberance, reminiscent of earlier American humorists, underscores Flannery's character while poking fun at linguistic rigidity in rule interpretation. Irony arises from Flannery's own defeat by his pedantic adherence to regulations; by charging the higher of 30 cents per instead of 25 cents for pets, he inadvertently triggers the multiplication that burdens him, as the animals' growth outpaces the bureaucracy's deliberations. The targets human folly in blindly following rules without applying , employing to illustrate how institutional fosters inefficiency and self-inflicted chaos. For instance, the railway company's prolonged debates over classification—debating whether guinea pigs qualify as "pigs," "rabbits," or something else—allow the animals to reproduce unchecked, satirizing the mechanical encrustation of procedure over practical reality, akin to Henri Bergson's theory of in rigid automatism clashing with life's vitality. The tone remains light-hearted and whimsical, focusing on individual mishaps rather than profound social , consistent with Butler's style of gentle, optimistic humor that resolves in reconciliation rather than condemnation.

Adaptations

Animated Adaptations

An early animated adaptation was the 1917 They Say Pigs Is Pigs, directed by and produced by the Gaumont Company. This cartoon adapts Ellis Parker Butler's story, though specific plot details are scarce due to its age. A closer rendition appeared in Productions' 1954 animated short "Pigs Is Pigs," directed by and released theatrically on May 21, 1954. This version faithfully adapts the source material, centering on railway station master Pete Flannery (voiced by Bill Thompson), whose refusal to classify two shipped pigs as either "pigs" or "pets" leads to bureaucratic delays and their rapid multiplication into hundreds, overrunning the station amid escalating costs and executive deliberations. The film employs anthropomorphic guinea pigs that dance and sing in a style (featuring voices by the Mellowmen Quartet) to amplify the satirical humor, with techniques highlighting the chaos through vibrant visuals and exaggerated expressions. Running approximately 10 minutes, the short was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Short Subject (Animated) at the .

Live-Action and Other Media

The earliest live-action adaptation of Ellis Parker Butler's "Pigs is Pigs" was a 1910 produced by the Edison Manufacturing Company, starring Charles M. Seay as the express agent Mike Flannery and faithfully capturing the story's bureaucratic humor through early silent-era techniques. Released on December 14, 1910, the one-reel production emphasized the escalating chaos of the shipment via visual gags and exaggerated expressions, marking one of the first cinematic interpretations of the tale. In 1914, released another live-action short titled Pigs Is Pigs, directed by George D. Baker and starring as Flannery, with Etienne Girardot in a supporting role. This single-reel comedy, distributed on July 17, 1914, highlighted visual to depict the agent's stubborn adherence to shipping rules, amplifying the story's satirical elements for audiences. Bunny's performance as the irascible Irish agent became a notable showcase in his career as a pioneering comedian. A later educational live-action short, Guinea Pigs Is Pigs (1979), was produced by Barr Films under directors Tom Carr and Bill Fiege, running 16 minutes and starring as Flannery. Intended for school distribution, this color adaptation closely followed the original narrative's dialogue and themes of regulatory absurdity, using straightforward staging to underscore the humorous proliferation of guinea pigs. The film retained the story's core conflict while simplifying it for younger viewers.

Legacy and Influence

Literary Inspirations

The short story "Pigs Is Pigs" by Ellis Parker Butler introduced the comedic motif of rapidly multiplying small animals entangled in bureaucratic delays, which profoundly influenced subsequent literature. In Robert A. Heinlein's novel The Rolling Stones, the Stone family acquires Martian "flat cats"—docile, pouch-dwelling creatures that reproduce uncontrollably aboard their spaceship, leading to logistical chaos amid shipping regulations and family disputes. Heinlein explicitly credited Butler's guinea pig proliferation as the inspiration for this , adapting the bureaucratic absurdity to an interstellar context. This concept extended further in David Gerrold's 1967 Star Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles," where tribbles—adorable, purring balls of fur—breed exponentially on the Enterprise, overwhelming the ship and complicating diplomatic efforts with Klingons. Gerrold acknowledged the potential subconscious influence from Heinlein's flat cats, prompting producers to seek and receive Heinlein's permission before airing; Heinlein, in turn, traced the lineage back to Butler's original tale. Post-Butler, the trope of uncontrollably breeding animals mishandled by authorities emerged as a recurring staple, symbolizing inefficiency and in confined or regulated environments, as seen in the chained inspirations from Heinlein's flat cats to Gerrold's tribbles.

Cultural Impact

The phrase "pigs is pigs" from the story has entered American vernacular as an expression highlighting literal-minded or obstinate interpretations, particularly in contexts of bureaucratic rigidity, and has appeared in 20th-century editorials and speeches to illustrate such arguments. For instance, political cartoonist Etta used the phrase in a 2011 editorial commenting on partisan divides, equating it to unyielding stances on issues. The story played a notable role in education during the early to mid-20th century, frequently anthologized in collections of American humor and school readers from the 1920s to 1950s to illustrate comedic elements, dialect, and vocabulary building. Its lighthearted satire on human foibles made it a staple for teaching narrative structure and irony in literature classes, contributing to its widespread use in curricula focused on classic short fiction. In modern , the story's themes of bureaucratic absurdity and rapid proliferation have inspired allusions in television, such as the multiplying tribbles in the 1967 episode "," which drew direct inspiration from the guinea pigs' unchecked breeding. Online, the narrative has fueled memes depicting "multiplying problems" in administrative or everyday scenarios, often captioned with the titular phrase to mock literal interpretations gone awry. As a of early 20th-century , "Pigs Is Pigs" maintains enduring appeal, remaining in print over a century after its debut and exemplifying gentle on institutional folly. Its status has led to widespread digital availability, with the story featured prominently on platforms like , facilitating continued accessibility for readers and educators.
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