Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1856-03-06
THE YANKEES TURKEY SHOW.

lcctS tney all improve, eAalt anu Slauuen
lite.-Sic(ncy Smii.
THE YANKEES TURKEY SHOW.
Walk in, gentlemen, walk in !! Come in,
and see the turkeys dance! It's curious
real curious. You won't wish you Aoeln't
if you elu see it once, but you will wish you
had, thousand times, if you don't see it p
"Turkeys dancing? Factand no mistake?
'Sartain! Come in and see, if you don't
believe it. If faint so you can have back
your two shillin'. Perhaps them other gen.
tlemen that's with you would like to come in
tew. It's only tew shillin', any hcow!
This was dialogue which heard before
the door of a shanty at a General Training
an October gathering in one of the inte-
rior towns of our own Empire State, in one
of the midland counties.
was one of them other gentlemen re-
fcrred to, and 1 disbursed the two shillin'
referred to, and entered, as did many others
who, similarly attracted, followed us into the
shanty.
sWal, gentlemen said the exhibitor, who
was an outand-out Yankee, expect we
might as well begin. You see that ere long
coop of turkeys. Wal, shall feed 'em fust,
and pretty soon arter, when then they begin
to feel their oats, (but that's joke, cause
we give 'em corn,) you'll see 'em, as soon
as the music strikes Up, you'll see 'em begin
to dance
The coop, which ran along the end of the
shanty farthest from the door, was about ff-
teen feet long, and must have contained some
twenty or thirty turkeys; heavy fellows they
were, too, most Of them-perfect treasures
for Christmas or New Years table. In
to this coop our exhibitor threw perhaps a
peck-or at least half peck-of corn.
This was soon gathered up, not without
much squabbling and fighting on the part Of
the feathered recipients, who wanted to see
fair play-that kind of fair play meaning,
which would give to the complainants the
largest half of the 'provant.'
Presently it was all devoured and the sau-
dience' called for the performance as pro-
missed.
yes, yes,' said the exhibitor, don't be in
tew big a stew. Give US time, if you
please. Strike up, music-give 'em a live
ly tewnv
At this, cracked flute, an old black grea-
sy fiddle, manned by thick-lipped negro,
and an 'ear-piercing ffe,' started off with
Yankee DOODLE at very quick time; and
sure enough, every turkey in the coop began
to dance, hopping from one leg to anoth-
er, crossing over, balancing chasseeing-do-
ing everything, in short, known to the sal
tatory art, except Joining hands and turn
ing partners.
well that is curious exclaimed the au-
ditors, simultaneously; never saw anything
like it before = 49, ----..--5-
No. says the exhibitor, expect you didn't.
dts all in edication, as the poet says. I
edicated them turkeys; and there amt one
on 'cm that hasn't q good ear for music
llcrcupon he turned to the audience, and
added
Wal, you've seen.it, and seen how natu-
raj they do it; now we want you to yacate
the room, and give them a chance that's on
the outside. There's new customers out
there a-waitil', and if you only tell 'cm out
side what you've seen with your own eyes,
you'll be doin' service to me, and give
to them an equal pleasure with what you
have enjoyed
This was soon done the audience retired
and another took their place-including,
however, one who had been an auditor at
the last exhibition. The same scene was
gone through with; the same feeding, mu-
sic, and dancing, only it was observed that
the motion of the turkeys was even more
lively than before.
1t struck the twice observer that Just be-
fore the music began, man was seen to
leave the room on both occasions; and un-
noticed, he stepped out the last time, and
saw the man busying himself with putting
some light kindling-wood under an opening
beneath the shanty.
The mystery was now out. The turkey
cage rested over slow fire, with thin tin
floor, and when the music struck up the fire
had become so hot that the turkeys hoped
about-frst Oh one leg and then on the 9TH
er-and changed positions, seeking rest and
finding nome till the fire had gone down,
and they were ready for another fecd
1t is proper to add that the author of this
invention was Yankee of the first water
the Orpheus of Turkeydom.
Horper's Magazine.
BEAUTIFUL EXTRACT.