The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1918-11-22
WORTHY OF GREAT DAY
Thanksgiving Feasts in Arizona
and Kentucky Described
by Prominent Sons.
n EARCUS AURELIUS SMITH,
NV the en- Arizona

i" the g II ter ID IL IL AliAoh"
AVA 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. 1t 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 q
negro roasted and basted. Nothing,
however, was more delicious. Served
with cactus or prickly pear sauce they
furnished 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 To-
calities along the border mescal Is a
substitute for whisky. A few drinks
Of mescal make a 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
I most hospitable. 1t would well repay
J q stranger to visit the state on Thanks
giving day. He could have 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
roseate flush overspread his face
There was the joy of anticipation II
his eye and his tongue began to drill
with eloquence. OF all the dinners II
the South, he said, Kentucky Thanks
giving feast was the best. 1t nigh
not be as great as in New England, bu
j the Kentucky dinner was the apicu
lated acme Of bliss. The air was al
: ways cool and bracing. The fir
n seemed to burn brighter than in an,
other state. The barnyard was NOR
> musical, and the baying Of the hound
made a refrain that thrilled the hear
with pleasure. The music Of the banJ
was heard and there were juba dance
9 and African melodies that soothed tn
soul. Each family had its gathering
all enjoyed themselves intensely. Their
e was a good dinner; turkey. Of cours'
: with cranberries and all the jellies an
gravies that Aunt Dinah could prepare
y Children and grandchildren met at tn
!. homes of parents and grandparent!
. and recalled the incidents Of the pas
d year. It was what old Aunt Chic
would call "rale clarin' up time l
!, family matters" The new babies wer
\ chucked under the chin, and all tn
merits of the spring colts were cal
n vassed. Troubles with servants wei
detailed. Family matters general
came under discussion, and prediction
,e were made as to winners at Lexington
NJ Latonia, and other famous race course
in the coming spring meeting.