New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-11-27
LIBELLING TIE TURKEY.

1T Is awful TO contemplate remarks The
Utica Observer the wholesale slaughter Of in
nocent turkeys 1t is calculated that about SOC
tons Of New-Eng gland turkeys, representing cash
value Of 100000, viii be sold this week in the
markets on account OF the coming Thanksgiving
celebration" II is evident from the way The
Observer talks that it entirely fails to under
stand the character of the American turkey. II
it did understand it, we should not hear it char
acterze the surrender Of life the part of 500 tons
of that most estimable Of birds as awful The
American turkey does not find life worth living
but he does find death worth dying. Like the
man in the story who had such wearisome help
meet, d" he Just aches to die" Dying may be said
10 be his distinctive function his pivotal AIM his
best hold Give him to die to die tender and To
die in November-for the turkey would not ole
in springtime' he asks no more That is
the sort of a bird the turkey is What. then, is
there awful" in the contemplation OF the deep
qualification of the taking of of 800 tons of him
early in the week in which Thanksgiving Day
oomes2
The turkey Is sometimes spoken Of by super
fetal thinkers rs the incarnation of self-sacriice
But he isn't II IS no sacrifice for him to be
roasted He would he unhappy, would regard his
career as fat failure, if roasting was denied him
He realizes that the success Of the annual Thanks
giving feast is largely conditioned upon him, upon
the shutting OF of his mortal coil. And 1t is
his highest privilege faithfully and well to meet
the responsibility imposed upon him. He passes
away grateful that he is called to play so impor-
tant a part in the perpetuaton of one Of the most
bene6cent of human institutions, the institution OF
THANKSGIVING Human beings may fail TO keep
the dav as It ought to be kept. They may lack
the true Thanksgiving spirit. They may De IN
clined TO emphasize the bitter and make light OF
the sweet which the year has brought TO them, or
they may allow the day to come and go without
inspiring them with any deed OF beneyolence
toward the wrctched and the needy. But the
turkey does his whole duty by Thanksgiving
Whatever record leaps to light to-day the turkey
shall not be ashamed According TO the best OF
his ability. with dark meat and with light meat
and with stufIlng, with second joint and with
merrv-thought and with the romantic wishoone,
he labors to make each recurring last thursday
of November rarer than day in June. the high
ride of the year. He realizes that he can trust
the American people TO place him where he VIII
do most good on Thanksgiving Day. and to hold
him in dear post-prandial remembrance. 80 he
goes to the block, not like the quarry slave at
night, scourged to his dungeon, but
Calmly, as 10 nights rcpose
Like flowers at set OF sun"
What folly, them 10 find anything awful in
Tho slaughter of " innocent turkeys IL would
no different II 500 tons of ofllce-holders had gone
70 slaughter, for oice-holders, unlike this philan-
tbroudc bird. do not find their highest Joy In
diving. or even in resimng. We extend to the
THANKSGIVING turkey Of 1889 the assurances oil
our disting shed consideration.