Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1899-09-13
DUMMY ALIENS TURTLE
The Soup IL Furnished For AIbany's
Old Time Epicurcs.

Old Time Eptcurcs.
a local paper half century ago pub
lished the following sketch. which has
lost none of its amusing flavor in the
Intervening years:
1.-The early history Of the first at
tempt at tickling the paIates of Albany
epicures with that delectable chaos Of
favors known as turtle soup was made,
We believe. by the celebrated Andrew
jackson Allen. better known as Dummy
Allen. who for many years acted as
Edwin Forests cOstumer and used 10
personate Caleb Quotem on the stage in
a style peculiar 20 himself. AT the time
We speak of he kept a restaurant in the
vicinity of the old Green Street theater
and was a prime favorite among the
bloods Of the day, who made his place
a customary resort.
ALBANY was then. "a now. a very
nice village but still there We're some
things IN Dummy Allen cookery book
not dreamed of in our philosophy. He
therefore resolved 10 afford Our ancient
epicures a taste Of bliss in "A guise hith-
ertC unknown To- them-to wit. turtle
soup. Accordingly public announce
ment was duly made 0f the felicity IL
store Tor the lovers Of good eating. and.
in order that appetites might be fully
whetted, for a few days before the ac-
ceptaule time "A siza BILE. aldernanic lD-l1-
iug green turtle was allowed u prom
enade mt the end Of a long string upon
the sidewalk IN front of Allen estab-
lShmeEt IN due time the repast came
of and proved complete triumph of
kitchen art. The new and delicious gift
70 appetite became the town talk and
showe~ed upon the immortal Dummy
vast reputation and much gold
"Once more and while the mouths Of
epicure- We're still watering with mem
orie> Of recent bliss the potent an
nouncemeut was reiterated; once more
decent looking turtle very like the
other. divulsed his ample neck on An
drew Jackson's premises. 10 the great
admiration If beholders once more fas-
tdiCus palates enjoyed select morsels
Of paradise from Aliens marvellous
boilers. and once more did vast renown
and much lucre fall q the share Of the
inspired Costumer IF the inner man.
The governor first business in the
morning before proceeding 20 state af-
fairs WAS - inquire whether Allen served
up turtle soup that day Tidings IF the
miraculous food would agitate the sen
ate, disturb the house and drive the lcb-
bieS wild
Turtle soup became all the rage.
and week after week il was eagerly de-
voured. At length some sharp and per
haps envicus observers Thought they
remarked striking similarity in all of
Dummy Aliens turtles One very sus-
picious individual, struck with their
strong coincidence of aspect, quietly
took the trouble of putting his sign
manual on the back of one announced
for thar days slaughter The III fated
criminal duly disappeared and was com
mented upon that day in the form Of
soup as unusually excellent
But. amazement When next week :
customary announcement of turtle soup
was made. how speedy was the ladder
Of immortality Knocked tat from under
the inspiring Allen when that same
mrtle-the Identical. supposed TO be
slaughtered victim Of the week before.
bearing the deeply cut private mark Of
our suspicious friend-turned up and
resumed its sidewalk promenade. ap-
Iarently IN capital condition fer q de
funct animal
The secret was ont. The game was
NJ. Dummy Allen was done for With
regular cheap supply of calves heads
and one specimen turtle. Caleb Quotem
had been doing the Albany epicures for
whole season at little or no expense.
ana with the sole aid Of their imagina-
tive powers he had regaled them with
unheard Of delicacies and at the same
time put golden lining 70 his pocket. "
Albany Argus.