Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1916-11-30
Something About The Turkey.

hUOdA lhC
Senior Don Turkey played brilliant
part in history even before the Spaniards
discovered him, alorg with Mexico, IN
1918.
Long before that he had been worship
ed by Aztecs. Later, when his religious
vogue was past, he was given place OF
honor at the marriage banquet OF king.
SO superior Wand was he considered
when first introduced to Europe that in
Constitution set forth by Cranmer in 1914
turkey is named as one OF the greater
fowls, OF which an ecclesiastic was 10
"have but one in a dishe" But he
speedily multiplied TO such an extent that
no later than 1855 two turkeys and four
turkey chicks were served at feast Of
the sergeants-at-arm in London.
Turkeys at that period were mentioned
in connection with cranes and swans as
important and rich items OF a banquet.
A little later, in 1873, turkeys were used
on the tables OF English husbandmen for
the Christmas feast. In the meantime
they were more than plentiful in their
home land, where turkeys continued TO
sell for about six cents apiece as late as
the nineteenth century. For six cents in
those good old days turkey weighing
about II pounds could be bought by
good shopper. II the family needed
turkey weighing 25 or 30 pounds il was
necessary TO pay as much as a quarter.
But it must be remembered that six cents
in those days counted good deal more
than il does in this.
The turkey that the Aztecs worshiped
was probably either the Mexican wild
turkey, which is known by the white
touches on IFS tail coverts and quiIls, or,
more appropriately, the ocellated turkey
OF Honduras and other paris OF South
America, whose brilliant plulage. spot
ted almost as gloriously with vivid colors
as a peacock, somehow allies il paricu-
larly with that vivid early people. The
turkey which stroled out Of the forests
OF New England and furnished so mar
velous a banquet for our Puritan fore
fathers was handSomer bird than that
OF Mexico, in the opinion OF some lovers
OF beauty, but not so brilliant a one as
the Honduras turkey.
The American wild turkey, which re-
ally belongs TO Thanksgiving, was the
North American wild turkey found
throughout the eastern United States and
Canada. Scientifically il is known as
Meleagris Americana. lis plumage is
black, shaded with bronze. In the rays
OF the sun the bird CLEANS in a beautiful
harmony OF black conner, gold and bronze.
And the turkey likes the rays OF the
sun. He hates damp weather. not alone
because il is bad for his health, but be-
cause il obscures his beauty.
II is generally believed at present that
all the turkeys oithe world have descend
ed from the three forms known as the
North American bird, which has just been
described; the Mexican bird and the
ocellated bird.
The turkey which was first introduced
into Europe may have been carried there
by the Spaniards from Mexico or The
Jesuits may have taken il back across the
waters from one oftheir scattered stations
in the great woods OF Canada. In any
event, one OF its representatives. figured
al the marriage banquet OF Charles TX
and was regarded as OF sufficient import
ance to be mentioned in the reports OF
that festivity.
Why the turkey is called the turkey,
when its origin is admittedly purely oc-
cidental, is a subject that has puzzled
many persons. There are several reasons
given by those who have delved deeply
into this problem, and one is privileged
10 take his choice. In The first place, il
is stated that the turkey was originally
supposed TO have come from Asia. Thus
at time when great stretch oiierhtoY
on the Asiatic continent was called "TuT-
key" the bird derived its name from its
supposed origin. Another speculative
chronicler records that The Indians called
the bird "firkee," and that from this its
common name was created. Then. again,
it is somewhat generally believed that
the bird named itself by its peculiar utter
snces, which are still translated as "turk-
turk-turkee." Again, still more subtle
philosophers have traced the naming Of
the bird TO its kinship in the matter OF
poIygamous habits with the Turks, and
there are other explanations.