New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-11-24
PITCHING GEESE FEATHERS.

AN INDUSTRY PRACTISED IN TIE JEWISH QUAR-
TER-A SCENE IN \ RIDGE-sT. BASEMENT.
"Rip, rp, rip is the only sound in the place. az
the curly feathers stripped by busy fingers, ana
half a dozen yellow breasts g.eam bare and
pimpy in the struggling daylight. They are pluck
Ing geese in a Ridge-st. basement. and so newly
killed are the victims that it ain o9 seems as II the
long bills must "cackle' an accompaniment.
ITS a pity that hat coating of feathers Is
al we can get" said the manager. a bury German.
IF them birds could have been pucked when Twin
and then turned loose, they'd give us as many
pounds again. later.
1t is a queer-looking place enough. with its bin
like compartments piled with feathers. barrels OF
feathers in the background. and geese unp.ucked,
half pucked and wholly plucked. hanging head
downward from the walls lying prone upon the
stools and boxes scattered about.
The air Is misty with the down that drifts up
ward in couds the clothing and even the hair OF
the women and girls decorated with tiny
feathers.
How much do you get for plrcklng?' IL asked OF
the woman who sits nearest the stepladoer tha'
leads to the pavement.
She Is worn and grizzled and STOPPING over but
she smiles pleasantly. she looks up and signals
that she does not understand the question.
Five cents" answers a bright-.ooking GIRL who
goes at her task theoretically and no sooner lays
one goose down than she starts on another.
and do you have many TO dor
1--WE begin here about o'clock on Thursdays
getting ready for the early buyers Friday morning
and we pick until or O'Clock Friday afternoon.
and the onookers and prospective buyers that
throng the steps and the pavement above are oil
that faith.
I'VE get 40 cents a pound for these breast feath-
ers." said the manager, plunglng hs hands Town
into the Welding mass, so clean and white ana at
tractivc in contrast with the dill gy SURROUNDINGS
These feathers don't need any curing. In those
other bins the inferior grade am carefui to
keep them separate"
All down through the Jewish quarter places
where geese plucking Is carried on, sometimes Just
by a private family. sometimes by poultry seller
who pays his assistants according to the number
they pluck.
The orthodox Jews. those who adhere strictly 10
in the preparation OF their food ard being paric-
u.ary prohibited and butter pIoscribed also Tor the
cooking OF certain dishes This Obligation makes
necessary the consuming OF many geese. Goose
flesh is also fayorite with the Jews. but equally
as popular with the Germans. OF which nation there
is a vast number In the Ghetto.
country goose plucking, where the squawkinG
goose has her long neck twisted incontinently ul-
der the Fuckers arm and is robbed OF her CORY
under the very eyes OF the Kissing rebeous
gander Is interesting. particularly when the piucked
victims find themselves released. after the ordeal
and wadd.e of in loud concave. making much ado
over their experiences, and looking odd enough
with their diminished fleece and pompous dignity
The city goosepucking lacks the life and animation
OF the rural episode There IL no chasing and
catching the geese. protest from the Indignant
birds broad, sunlit space Of yard. excitement
but the feathers are just al curly and white and
suggestive OF comfort the FUCKERS just as human
If OF a different type and differently circumstance
and the stark carcasses. dangling legs and long
necks of Tie victims remind that they fee! no
ndignity at being stripped Of outward adornment