Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-12-19
SUNDAY. DECEMBER 10, 1897
THE CHRISTMAS TURKEY


Thanksgiving-Day will be a thrice lucky
bird should he survive the Charybdis OF
Christmas. For him the melancholy DAYS
have come, the most perilous OF the
year. Indeed. we think we hear dis
tinct plant in his gobble and notice a
less confident motion in his strut as the
season of good cheer approaches. Yes,
the slaughter will be general and the
more so since the cold storage system
now in operation in all large cities per-
mits dressed fowls to be kept indefinitely.
OF old, turkeys came to Richmond in
droyes, often from far-distant counties,
and from Tennessee and Kentucky. They
were driven just as sheep and beeves
were, and were as easily managed, except
at nightfall. AS late as Governor Wise's
day drove of turkeys en- route to
Bacon's-Q Quarter branch, via Governor
and Capitol streets, CHANGED to be near
the Washington monument when dusk
came And then, at the command OF the
gobbler-general of the gang, and in de-
fance Of the drovers, and in contempt of
trees of the Capitol Square and went to
roost. But early next morning they were
ready to resume their march and were
soon on their way to Goddin's Tavern.
That famous Brook-avenue hosiery,
which survives to this day, in a some
what decayed state, was the rendezvous
for drovers in particular, and the lovers
of good food and good liquor in general
Hitler about Christmas time came
many from various parts of the State
some on business, some on pleasure. AND
counted as one of the chiefest of the lat
ter was the Christmas turkey matches
or target shootings. About this season
OF the year in all that neighborhooo
turkey shooting matches were in pro-
gress. The prizes were live turkeys and
the winners were those who struck near
est the bulls eye' of the rude target
Shotguns and rifles both were used.
These matches caused the gathering o
many men--men of all degrees-and hume
rous were the disputations that arose du
ring the course Of the contests. Some
times there were fist fights. And. alas
here and there throughout the land gun
were used and there were killings. II
that day whiskey had the same effec
upon men that 1t has now. And-!t wa
easier TO get. 1t could be bought a
cheaply as 25 or 30 cents per gallon, an
q fine quality was obtainable at from
cents TO 81. Hence, the turkey matches
we're looked upon not without dread b.
nervous wives Of drinking husbands an
parents of wild" sons. In numerous @
the books descriptive of the old Soutl
accounts Of these matches appear. Their
in Georgia Scenes"
But the turkey drovers had other Gus
toners besides the target shooters. Hucl
sters, hotel men, heads OF families
and others came TO them TO buy.
And next In importance TO Bacon's
Quarter branch as turkey market wa
ethe Basin bank''-the harbor and LAND
ing of the canal-boats that ran betwee
Richmond and Buchanan. Thousands {
turkeys--some alive, some dressed--cam
10 Richmond on these boats. Wen, I'll
Oldest inhabitant recalls the merry note
OF the incoming boatmans horn; III
crowd that awaited his landing, and III
eagerness with which his stock {
turkeys. eggs. apples. meats, etc. wer
scanned and bargained for by the woulC
be buyers.
Wild turkeys in plenty were brougt
into our markets In those halycon day
Some come now, but II is not often thu
they are found 10 be in A No. cond
= tion. They are not at their best If &c
fresh; nor. for the matter of that, Is Il
domestic turkey, or any game.
In those days turkey buyers had
watch the state OF the weather closet
because their conyenienees for keepir
dressed fowls were few. AS "a rule. tbs
stored them In cellars. and an extrao
dlnarily warm season at Christmas wou
cause them heavy losses. Then. too, Il
prudent housewife calculated by n
state Of the weather whether turke.
would sell dearly or cheaply.
IL Is different now. The weather Is n
80 important factor In the turk'
market as formerly. In the cold-stora
warehouses meats may be kept IA go'
order Tor an indefinite time Indeed, &
mali who goes into restaurant now
days aud orders eanyas-back duck,
@r1neA dans not know land cares ns