Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-23

Tbenksxiving-Day and will escape the
Christmas sacrifice. No statistician that
we know Of has yet computed the num-
Der Of these birds they are birds, not
fowls) that is annually served on the
tables OF the American people. but II must
be very large indeed.
other peoples enjoy turkeys. too, but
none use them 80 lavishly as We do.
In foreign lands the goose still holds the
conspicuous place on the Christmas tables
of many families. But the turkey is
known and highly esteemed the world
over. The turkey and tobacco are two
OF the distinctive products. OF America
which all nations have been ready to
adopt and use.
II is not known whence the turkey was
introduced to Europe. but II Is thought
that he was carried there by the Span
iards who had occupied Mexico. From
Spain. probably. he was carried to Tur-
key and thrived nightly In the congo
NAL atmosphere Of that polygamous en-
pire. In England he made his appear
ance about the sixteenth century and
turkey" was his name.
Our domestic turkeys, we dare say
have come TO We from Mexico via Spain,
Turkey, and England. and this, notwith-
standing the fact that there never has
been a time when a gang" Of turkeys
could not be started up within ten or
twelve miles of Richmond. Indeed, but
recently a daring but misguided gobbler
invaded the suburbs OF the city, coming
as near Richmond as the fields irnmedi-
ately west OF the Exposition grounds.
Whether his purpose was to present him
self at the grounds for exhibition or he
was In search of missing members OF his
family we know not. but he fell victim
to n sportsman and furnished forth a
feast where, we doubt not, that
old question was Observation-Disclosures the
wild or the domesticated turkey is the
better. Certain II Is that more Of pleas
ant-like flavor is discoverable in the wild
turkeys than in domesticated ones. Epi-
cures prefer the wild turkey when 1t has
had proper foraging ground. But what
was once true of the excellence Of the
wild turkey may not be so true now.
lie hasn't the same range" that he had
in colonial days.
Times have altered. both for the turkey
and for the Indian. The Indian Is now
hemmed In by the fast tightening belt
of civilization. The turkey that values
hic lifn hfIn IN,
new pine lands. He can no longer strut
over the whole State as he used to do,
using his wings to supplement the power 70
his long legs So the old-time wild tur-
key. doubtless. made better dish than
the domesticated turkey did; but since
then II may be that the former has
been deteriorating while the latter has
been improving.
Virginia and the Carolinas were blessed
with wild turkeys In abundance in the
early days Of English settlement. Then
the farmer had no need to raise turkeys.
All that he had TO do was to build a
blind, initiate a turkey hens cry, and
soon he would have a whole gang within
VIZ ihh5C Va Gun. COlitlliltS lHt
turkey would be cooked on a spit near a
fire of oak or hickory Goals; or II no,
on a spit then in an oven, TO which
hardwood Goals were applied top and
bottom.
Beyond the Rocky Mountains the turkey
was never known in his aboriginal state.
His habitat was east of that sterile and
forbidding range. Long as are his strides
he never voluntarily ventured to cross
the Rockies.
When the day OF domesticated turkeys
came in Virginia they were raised-as
they are now-in great numbers in the
country 1t was formerly the custom tc
collect them in droves in the interior
and drive them to Richmond. Droves OF
turkeys numbering 800 or 600 have come
here from counties as distant as Patricl
and Henry.
Turkeys are as obedient to the droveI
as cows, sheep, or hogs, and are ex
cellent walkers, but they will stop al
night-fall. When instinct tells them that
1t is time to go to roost go they will II
one occasion drover who was hurryins
his turkeys through this city, hoping &c
get them to Bacon's Quarter branch be-
fore dusk, got along well enough until
he turned from Governor street into
Capitol street, when the turkeys, seeing
the trees and fences of the Capitol Square
became altogether unmanageable. Here
we rest" is what their action said, and
from the Square they could not be stirred
until next morning, when the cheerful
"gobbe, gobble" of the leader gave notice
that they were ready to start, more
especially as the drover. who was theil
guide and friend, dropped many grains Of
corn as he led the way towards Brool
avenue.
Whether we Americans would have bet
ter adopted the turkey instead Of thu
cruel and rapacious eagle as our nationa
bird we cannot say. but certainly the
turkey is a gracious gift Of Providence
1t has come to be suggestive Of gooC
cheer, Of festlvity, and OF the happy fam
fly circle. But we have to remember tina
there are many families in this land TO
day that will have no Christmas turkey
unless kind friends provide It, There arr
families indeed, that would be gla'
enough to go without the turkey If the!
could but be provided with bread an
bacon. We commend all such to tn
charity of those who are blessed Will
| abundance. What we have neretofor
written on the subject OF Christmas tur
keys for the poor has, we know, done som
| good. We know of many persons WIN
have already opened their pockets t
provide turkeys or Other food for poo
| families, and We feel sure that hundred
of others having been reminded OF thei
duty, have quietly resolved to look GU
for ard relieve the wants OF their poo
neighbors. We shall ei Joy our owl
Christmas turkey and the cheer OF on
| own table ara fireside in proportion a
| we have contributed 10 the comfort an
| happiness of less fortunate persons.
| ------------
| Japan and Peace.
The news that China has sued for peac
is confirmed, yet 1t does not follow tina
there will be a speedy actual conclusion