The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1917-11-22

WUUJ INI DIIlO
Of THANKSGIVING
The bronze turkey. that variety which
today holds the place Of honor In tins
North American Rroup Of turkeys. az
outdone bv none when 1t comes %
beauty or size. Black. beautifully
shaded with q rich bronze. the breast
with q lustrous finish OF coppery goid,
gives full warrant for the name py
which this bird 10 known.
b full Grown. healthy bird " e
beautiful picture OF bronze. black. cop
per and gold and sometimes weighs ~
or more pounds. Other varieties knoWn
Ia the barn yard n even oGnlze
among dealers az having distinctive
markings are In reality only highly
developed fowls with preserved pecull-
arities. Under this classification comes
the white turkey.
In the United States there are six
standard varieties recognized and
gansett. buff. slate. white and black.
h chief differences are in size anu
color of plumage.
The rome and Narragansett are the
largest. the buff and slate medium,
while the white and black are the
smallest. Within late years. however,
the white variety has reached such g
point of popularity that 1t has increased
In size until with some dealers it
occupies third place.
Whatever the turkey may have
missed through failing to secure that
place of honor suggested for it by Ben
Jamin FTanklin-as the national bird
IF h0 Q r,axyn,.f,1 4 4~c fo,,,.3ra ,,1onAgin tho
regard of the American people which is
held by no other fowl.
Time was when q turkey, or as many
as could be carried, might be had al
most for the asking. Then came the
period when SO cents would buy a
plump young fowl. Even SO short q
time as 10 years ago turkeys could be
purchased for from s to 90 cents a
pound, dressed.
Some interesting figures We're at n
line compiled by the department of
agriculture in connection with the tur-
key. In 1886 the census showed the
turkey population in the United States
to be 100000. -Four years later the
department foundt there were but $780,
600. Such a discrepancy needed inves-s
t2atlon. 1t was made, and the answer
was O o forthcoming.
In the year 1896 the breeders had lit
orally counted their eggs before rhey
We're Matched, and the consequent total
Included all poults, cggs in the nest and
BIRDS expected, as well as the growH
turkeys. With the latter figure only
birds OF 8 months or more were in
Guided h figure, therefore. is the
true estimate of the average annual
turkey supply at that time. While today
the supply has increased with the ris-
Ing demand each year.
But even with the increase that has
come q With n haF no cSSy, or WOO. &c. ,l.,F,,,,
ply is not sufficient or the price low
enough for every person in this coun-
try to include it in the list of Thanks
giving features. And so the picture
which Gray painted cannot hold true.
He wrote, from the low peasant to the
lord. the turkey smokes on every
board"
Origin of Thanksgiving.
In colonial days it was customary to
appoint days Of fasting or feasting, of
prayer OF thanksgiving. when public
vents seemed to warrant this recogni-
ton In 1889 Washington ordered 81
day of Thanksgiving for the adoption
of the Federal constitution subse.
Quently various days in November were
recommended by presidents and cover
nors until, in 1858, the regular obser-
of a national Thanksgiving day
was instituted through a proclamation
Of President Lincoln. The presidents
NOSS INV q II d lldllOl-
81 holiday. 1t applies legally only to the
District Of Columbia and the territor-
les. 1t is the governors proclamations
that affect the states. The day is OBJ
served in all states, but in some it is
not a statutory holiday. Thursday was
originally selected by the Puritans
probably because, being near the mid
die OF the week, it gave opportunity
Tor the scattered members Of the, fami-
ly to come together and to return with
out Decorating the Sabbath by travel.
November was selected as the month
when the fall harvests were all gathered
Other countries have Thanksgiving days
for special occasions, such as success in
battle or the deliverance of the people
from a national calamity. but the fixed
annual Thanksgiving day is a custom
belonging to America alone.
Harvest Home" and Thanksgiving.
The harvest ZONE Of the Saxons and
Celts,t the cerealia Of the Romans, the
Israelitish feast of t~abernacles and,
for all that we know to the contrary,
the first harvest celebration of pre-
adanite man We're the actual precur-
sors Of Il Thanksgiving. Even among
the American Indians there was held
an autumnal festival which might not
unjustly claim precedence as the true
aboriginal Thanksgiving of the west
ern world. Modern observances Of
Thanksgiving, with their sporting
features, are denounced in certain
quarters as sadly at variance from the
ideas of the Plymouth ~colonists dur
ing their first golden autumn on the
coast of Cape Cod bay. Indications are
not altogether wanting, however, that
the n of celebrating has changed
In nonessentials only. No longer is a
whole week devoted to Thanksgiving,
as in the days of Governor Bradford.
A single day suffices.
Not Essentially American.
Our American Thanksgiving is usual
ly considered our one native contribu-
ton to the holidays of nations, as it's
observance originated with the New
ENGLAND fatherS. Perhaps the fathers