South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-13

/ II lnNlleu 70 banquet Wnere SKUNK
and muskrat were featured as the
piece de resistance. endorsed by 90
OF the leading sportsmen OF America.
who had eaten both rat and cat
meat, with great relish. then pro-
nouncing il par excellent, would YOU
slip your feet under the IA ble-Vith
/ a growing appetite then insist upon
/ being served with liberal portions ?
\ Are peoples tastes cha nging along
1 the culinary and gasronomic routes >
/ Prairie chicken were declared worth
/ less as food, by many early set
/ tiers Of the middle west, who bra nd
| ed them as a crop menace only. Coot
1 or mud-hen never graced the bag OF
! real specimen in We olden days.
| they were considered worthless for
| table use. based upon the mud and
/ fish flavor acquired by the meat. The
/ scarcity OF ducks has Of late years
/ boosted the mud hen stock above
| par. Coot are found in great num-
! bers, are easily "grassed," requiring
/ very little hunting skill or shooting
I accuracy. They are now declared
"toothsOme" by self confessed con-
( noisseurs, claiming they are III for
! home consumption. superior 20 either
! canvas back or red head ducks. A
| perverted taste. In the fish kingdom,
I in days gone by the gar. sheep head.
I hackle back. sturgeon and dog fish
were tossed into the food discard,
/ they are now unloaded on an unsus-
/ pecting populace, under many cam
ouflaged names Sailed, cured.
/ smoked and faxed they have be-
! come a thirst parlor" lunch count
/ er delicaoy. Is the acceptance Of
! formerly declared non-eatable fish
! and game. due TO the scarcity Of
! food, desire TO conserve. change Of
/ gastronomic taste. or federation or
acquired ability to prepare food in a
| manner. whereby Objectionable fea-
lures are disguised or eliminated?
|
The late Judge A. K. Vickers Of
] the Illinois supreme court, recited to
! Judge George A. Cooke of Aledo, Ill
| his associate member on the bench.
/ the story of an acquaintance resid-
| ing in Calhoun county. H.. who was
rated a most successful wild turkey
/ hunter. He was ever ready 70 ex-
change a wild turkey for a skunk
carcass. claiming polecat. when prop
| erly dressed, was far preferable for
! eating purposes. Bogus Island Shoot
| ing and Fishing club. with preserve
/ on an island in the Mississippi river.
/ five miles above New Boston. ILL.,. al
ways staged an annual novelty fish
or game dinner. Judge Cooke was
/ booked as master of ceremonies,
| with power to act. An opportunity
was offered to secure an intelligent
unbiased and uninstructed verdict
| from an aggregation OF epicures on
| the culinary value OF skunk and
! muskrat versus succulent possum
meat, which was on the menu.
! Eugene CNiche) Parkman is a rec
| ognized authority on scientific trap
ping. meat conserving and game
! dressing He caught. cleaned and
artiSticaly prepared a sufficient num-
! Der Of skunks and muskrats for the
/ announced possum dinner; reserves
of sweet potatoes. mushrooms. peas
/ and other accessories were furnished
! TO one OF Chicago's famous chefs.
who developed every effort TO make
palatable the succulent viands. Rich
/ gravy. submerged the hot southern
/ biscuit. Parsley garnishment, EN-
/ bellished the appetizing appearance
/ of the Drowned rodents. Fifty mem
! bers and guests were present. Boun-
{ tiful portions of meat were served,
many backed in" for additional
! helps Eulogies were pronounced
and compliments showered upon the
purvepor and his succulent possum.
( That old times, ever popular melo-
1 dy. For he's "A jolly good fellow, 30
was worked over time. When the
4 Overfed, appreciative and contented
/ banqueters subsidized into the atmos-
phere of the quiet zone and curling
smoke, the judge arose. then judi
/ ciOusly backed into corner, launch
( ing a learned and studied disserta-
/ ton on possum and its many attrib-
/ utes as viewed from "A darkey' 5
/ SAdiuPOliil + lbtl LlbAAIttuc AUluSh-
raD was described as aquatic. very
: cleanly in its home habits, heavily
! built, very small bead like eyes. a
4 rapid swimmer and expert diver.
/ herbiferous living on roots. stems
! and leaves of water plants. Mephis-
/ It's mustelida (striped skunk an an
/ imal which is much maligned non
/ appreciated. a slow moving phleg-
I matte, nOn-excitable little creature.
/ much avoided for distinct reasons
I and ever ready 10 get chummy with
man with little encOura cement He
/ demands and is usually accorded the
right Of way especially on single
track. Nature has equipped him
as a means Of defense-with scent
/ sacks. which secrete "A clear yellow
ID fluid, with naseous smell and ov-
/ empowering Odor. which does not ef-
/ feet the meat flavor. This fact. 30
said the judge. you gentlemen viii
+, verify. who have tonight been eating
so bountifully Of skunk and muskrat.
substituted for the much enjoyed
possum.' Chances were exchanged.
! General CONSERVATION ensued. A few
were called 10 the great outdoors. A
l sea son OF intense deliberatfou fol-