St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1898-04-06
LIVE GEESE FEATHERS.


"The feathers aren't alive, but the
geese they were plucked from were,"
said dealer in live geese feathers.
"And the geese they were plucked from
never once squawked nor squeaked dur.
ing the operation. Not because it didn't
hurt the geese, though. It hurts goose
like the mischief to pull its feathers
suit, but the reason goose doesn't hol.
Ter and make fuss over it is that 1t
doesn't seem to know enough. A goose
will squawk and olatter and cackle as
II it were suffering more agony than a
horse with the colo just at the sight Of
q person, but if You cover it up and
pelt it with stones it seems to forget
that it has a voice and will take all the
punishment you give 1t without utter
ing bit Of protest.
"Never saw a goose pluoking, eh9
Well, it isn't q sight that would give
you much pleasure. On the day set for
stripping geese Of their feathers they
are enticed into some alright clubhouse.
The pickers, who are always women or
girls, 60 among the geese with their
heads and faces entirely covered with
hoods fastened round the neck with a
shirr string. There are holes for the
eyes. and also little holes at the nose
for fresh air.
"From the neck down the picker is
covered with glazed muslin garment,
to which no feathers or down will ad-
here. The pickers sit on low stools
around . large and perfectly dry tub.
There is generally man or boy in the
neighborhood who is an expert at get.
ting the geese ready for picking. Every
body can't do that The wings Of the
goose have to be locked together by a
peculiar arrangement Of them near the
shoulders and while the wings are not
tied or fastened in any other way the
lock is such that no goose can open it.
The fowls feet are tied together with
broad bands of soft muslin or flannel.
When a goose is thus made helpless, it
is taken upon the picker's lap, and she
plucks the feathers out rapidly, but
with such skill that she seldom breaks
the skin or causes blood to flow. Feath-
ers fill the air during the process Of
plucking, but all settle gradually down
into the tub at last.
Before beginning on q goose the
picker brushes the feathers the wrong
way, exposing the skin. An expert can
tell at glance by the color Of the skin
whether she must exercise more than
ordinary care in plucking it, or whether
1t is not better to let the goose 60 with.
out plucking at that time. In every case
the picker must be careful and not
pluck the feathers too close under the
wings. If goose has been improperly
picked in that respect, the wings will
droop and drag on the ground. All
through this process Of yanking the
feathers out Of goose's body not
sound Of complaint or cry Of pain is
heard from the goose. It submits to the
torture with a silent solemnity that
would be laughable If it were not for
the evident fortitude Of the fowl that
goes with it.
ut is necessary that the feathers
should be taken from live geese-that
is, if the comfort and pleasure Of people
who must have feather beds and pill
lows are to be studied. Dead feathers
are no better than husks and are un-
wholesome. But there isn't a pound of
feathers used today where 30 pounds
were some years ago. Asthma and hay
! fever have done great deal to lessen
| the demand for feather beds and pill.
lows, for it was discovered a few years
ago that feather beds and asthma loved
to consort, and that nothing would
start an asthmatio to wheeling SO quick
ly and positively as couch Of geese
feathers would. The discovery spread,
and the patient and accomplishing goose
owes great deal Of its latter day com.
fort to the asthma. New York Sun.