The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-11-26
IN PRAISE OF THE GOOSE.
The Noble Bird That Ornaments Our
Tables at Christmas Time.
From the Baltimore Sun.


At the approach of colder weather,
with the Thanksgiving and Christmas
holidays in the non-distant perspective,
the general fancy turns willingly to the
contemplation of the generous cheer
which has become associated in the mind
with those two hearty festivals. In
the United States, at Thanksgiving es-
pecially the turkey has long held the
place of honor, and no patriotic Ameri-
can will deny that he deserves the fame
and worship he has won. There is an
other fowl, however, that is held in
high esteem in other countries and by
many persons in this, and which possibly
may come in time to be considered a not
unworthy companion for our favorite
national fowl. We refer to that fire.
quontly riduculed, but highly useful and
succulent bird, the goose. While the
goose would appear to be a true cosmo-
politan, being found from China to
Lapland, it was formerly bred in espe-
cially large numbers in certain English
counties, where, as the Encyclopedia
Britannica informs us, lit was no uncom-
mon thing for man to keep a stock of a
thousand geese, each of which might be
rear on an average seven goslings. The
fiocks were regularly taken to pasture and
water, just as sheep are, and the man
who tended them was called the goose
herd, corrupted into gozzerd. The birds
were plucked five times in the year." and
as the feathers were quite valuable, no
inconsiderable revenue was derived from
this source. Possibly this industry might
be revived with profit on some of the
WORKOUT lands of this and other states,
although it is likely it would be neces-
sary at first to import an experienced
goose-herd from abroad to give us the
points on the proper care of them.
The goose would, in fact, appear to have
been regarded almost as a sacred bird in
England, as-not to mention Bob
Cratchit's Christmas goose, whose very
stutfing was instinct with religion and be-
| nevolence-it was associated prominently
with one of the principal ecclesiastical
feasts of the year, that Of Michaelmas
day Sept. 30, observed in honor of St.
Michael and all the holy angels. St.
Michael name in the Bible occurs always
in a warlike connection. Whenever he is
mentioned he is engaged in fighting. Why
goose should be offered upon his altar
rather than any other fowl is not appar-
ent, unless because it was considered not
only peculiarly dainty bird, but one of
marked religious tendencies. Certain it
is that roast goose was favorite dish on
that day with all ranks, it being record
that Queen Elizabeth was "eating her
joyful tidings of the defeat of the Span
lsh Armada"
Other nations have also held the goose
in equal honor. After the caoklfng and
kissing of geese had saved Rome from the
invader they were regarded with almost
as much generation as the Roman eagles.
/ In short, the goose appears to hang high
| in every country in which it is known,
and to be so pleasantly regarded that to
call one a goose ought almost to be con-
| sidered equivalent TO the tender tribute
paid by lover to his sweetheart when
| he calls her his duck. Even in literature
| the term has become synonymous with
the most famous of household poems,
the rhymes of Mother Goose, which in
simple form convey so many profound
and philosophical truths.