Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1917-11-22
ABOUT the BIRD
OF THANKSGIVING

lOQdS OlN lAc ploSS VI oAlC
North American group OF turkeys, is
outdone bv one when it comes to
oeaut or size. Black, beautifully
shaded with a rich bronze. the breast
plumage being dark bronze illuminated
with a lustrous finish of coppery gold,
gives full Warrant for the name pN
Which this bird is known
The full crown. healthy bird is a
beautiful picture of bronze. black, cop
per and gold and sometimes weighs 40
or more pounds. Other varieties known
in the barn yard and even recognized
among dealers as having distinctive
markings are in reality only highly
developed fowls With preserved peculi-
~srities. Under this classification comes
the white turkey.
In the United States there are six
standard varieties recognized ana
grown. These are the bronze, Nara
s%ansett. buff. slate. white and black;
color OF plumage.
The bronze n N~arragansett 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 a
point of popularity that it 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 Franllin-aS the national bird
1t has nevertheless found Il place IN the
regard of the American people which is
held by no other fowl.
Time WAS when a turkey. or as many
as could be carried. might be had all
most for the asking. Then came the
period when so cents would buy a
plump young fowl. Even so short a
time as 10 years g turkeys could be
purchased for from s to 20 cents Il
pound, dressed.
Some interesting figures We're at one
time compiled by the department of
agriculture in connection with the tur-
key. In 1896 the census showed the
turkey population in the United States
to be 12,0 0 900. -Four years later the
department found there We're but $780,
900. Such Il discrepancy needed inves-
tigation. 1t Was made, and the answer
was 500 forthcoming.
In the year 1896 the breeders had lit
orally counted their eggs before they
We're Matched, and the consequent total
included all poults, egg in the nest and
birds expected, as we'll as the grown
turkeys. With the latter figure only
birds of 3 months or more We're in
Cluded. That 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 with the passing Years, the sup
ply is not sufficient or the price low
enough for every person in his 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 or Thanksgiving, when public
events seemed to Warrant his recogni.
ton. In 1889 Washington ordered q
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 1853, the regular obser-
was instituted through a proclamation
of President Lincoln. The presidents
proclamation does not make it Il nation
al 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 i'm all states. but in some il 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
for the scattered members of the fami
ly to come together and to return with
out desecrating the Sabbath by travel
November was selected as the non
when the fall harVeStS We're all gathered
Other countries have Thanksgiving days
for special occasions, such as success il
battle or the deliverance of the peopl,
from a national calamity. but the fixe,
annual Thanksgiving day is q custom
belonging to America alone
"Harvest Home" and Thanksgiving.
The harvest home of the Saxons ar
Celts, the cerealia of the Romans, tn,
Israelitish feast of tabernacles and
for all hat we know to the contrary
the first harvest celebration of pre-
adamite man We're the actual precur
sors of u Thanksgiving. Ever anon,
the American Indians there was he'll.
an autumnal festival which might no
u~njustly claim precedence as the tru,
aboriginal Thanksgiving Of the west
ern world. Modern o%bservances O
Thanksgiving. with their sporting
features. are denounced in certain
quarters as sadly at variance from tn
ideas of the Plymouth colonists dur
ing their first golden autumn on tn
coast of Cape Cod bay. Indications ar
not altogether wanting. however. tina
the name of celebrating has change,
in nonessentials only. No longer is
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
observance originated with the New
England fathers. Perhaps the father
themselves liked to think of it in thi
o~riginative way and so wished it per