Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1918-11-28
WORTHY OF GREAT DAY
Thanksgiving Feasts in Arizona
and Kentucky Described
by Prominent Sons.

n KARCUS AURELIUS SMITH,
M the ent tanning Arizona
statesman, was once queS-
toned concerning Thanksgiving festi-
walls in that far-Off territory. He said
that they were different from most
Thanksgiving in the East. AS the
country was new, there were very few
grandchildren to grace Thanksgiving
dinners. The piece de resistance at
the table was usually a gigantic wild
turkey. It was always cooked on the
old Kentucky or Virginia plan. The
side dishes included venison and bear
meat, if anybody wanted it. A delicious
dish was bear paws la Mexicaine.
Tenderfeet did not regard them with
favor, because when brought upon the
table they looked like the feet of
negro roasted and basted. Nothing,
however, was more delicious. Served
with cactus or prickly pear sauce they
furnished a dish fit for the gods. Then
the baked sweet potatoes upon the
table were extremely savOry. The
sweet potatoes in Arizona, if Mark
Smith is to be believed, are Sweeter
and more exquisite than those grown
in any other part of the universe. He
says they taste as though they had
been raised by some Kentucky gentle
man in the Garden of Eden. There
are frequent innovations in family
Thanksgiving dinners in Arizona. Be-
ing broad and liberal in everything,
they do not allow their tastes to be
hampered by conventionalities. In
some places where they cannot get
champagne, they are reduced to the
necessity of drinking whisky. In 10
calities along the border mescal is
substitute for whisky. A few drinks
of mescal make man feel as though
he had six heads, twelve feet, and
twenty-four hands. OF all the people
on the globe the Arizonians are the
most hospitable. 1t would well repay
a stranger to visit the state on Thanks
giving day. He could have a dinner
without price or money every hour in
the day, with venisOn, antelope steaks,
bear meat, champagne, whisky, and
mescal thrown in.
When Asher Caruth of Kentucky
heard the talk about Thanksgiving a
roseate flush Overspread his face.
There was the JOY of anticipation in
his eye and his tongue began to drip
with eloquence. Of all the dinners in
the South he said, Kentucky Thanks
giving feast was the best. 1t might
not be as great as in New England, but
the Kentucky dinner was the apicu
lated acme of bliss. The air was al
ways cool and bracing. The fire
seemed to burn brighter than in any
other state. The barnyard was more
musical, and the baying of the hounds
made a refrain that thrilled the heart
with pleasure. The music of the banjo
and African melodies that sOothed the
soul. Each family had it's gathering;
all enjoyed themselves intensely. There
was good dinner; turkey, of course,
with cranberries and all the jellies and
gravies that Aunt Dinah could prepare.
Children and grandchildren met at the
homes of parents and grandparents,
and recalled the incidents Of the past
year. 1t was what old Aunt Chloe
would call a ''rale clarin' up time in
family matters" The new babies were
chucked under the chin, and all the
merits of the spring colts were can
vassed. Troubles with servants were
detailed. Family matters generally
came under discussion, and predictions
were made as to winners at Lexington,
Latonia, and other famous race courses
in the coming spring meeting.