The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-11-22

After studying the wild turkey for GO years.
hunting it for 80 years and photographng ii for
ten years, Charles l.. Jordan, an Alabama gen
tleman, thought with Benjamin Franklin, that the
eagle hasn't an honest leg to stand on as the real
bird of freedom
Though a little vain and silly the turkey.
Franklin said, is a native American land a bird
of courage" Had he known more the subject
he would have added that the turkey is both wise
and cleanly and is never vain or silly except dur
ing the gobbling Can much be said Of
any other biped?
The gobbling seasOn-amOng turkeys, of course
opens and ends with spring. 1t is then that the
male struts and calls and reveals his whereabouts
to hunters and their dogs.
During the rest of the year, however, he frus-
trates man and mOcks at all his plans. He Is in
the woods, but invisible TO enemies armed with
guns. Brave, silent. dignifed and capable, he is
unconquerable until he becomes elocutive and
loye-lorn and begins to make a huge fan of his
tail.
Wild turkeys have had their historians biOgra-
pliers and antquarians, says James b. Morrow
in the Boston Globe. Scientists have written
about them in a lingo that nobody can under
stand There are enough turkey books here and
In France, Spain and Great Britain to make a
large library in themselves
The department of agriculture in Washington
employs a field expert who spends a larger part
of the year with hOcks of dOmesticated turkeys
that he may learn their habits and search out all
the secrets of their lives. The turkey industry
touches almost every farm.
Trainloads of live and dressed turkeys are
shipped from large and small towns in the South
There are turkey farms in the West with herders
for the focks and turkeys in droves. like cattle
and sheen can be seen in Tennessee, California
and elsewhere, Just before Thanksgiving ana
Christmas on the way to market. Also there are
turkey doctors -
Bur Mr. Jordan, living out of doors from child
hood to old age. and meeting his death at last
from a poacher's shot, knew more about turkeys
than anyone who has ever lived. He began study
ing them hidden behind fallen trees ana IN the
brush while still too young to carry a rifle
Chief among the pupils of this fine old master
was Edward A. Mcnhenny business man OF
Avery island. Louisiana, at whose suggestion re-
serves for birds have been established in drerent
parts of the United States. The Mclihenney
family owns Avery island some $500 acres In ex-
font where the fast vanishing white heron finds
refuge during the breeding season. and where
| ducks nv the thousand live throughout the WIN
| ter . -,
| Auonp the turkey hunters of today Mr.. Nc
! uhonpv 10 nrominent But for his fidelity and
| enthusiasm and his skill as a writer Mr.. Jor-
| dams practical and fascinating knowledge of the
wild turkey would have been lost 10 sportsmen
| and naturalists. So too. would have been lost
| Mr. Jordan's method of COOKING wne'her tne
turkey is shot In the woods or less dramatically.
| Is taken from a tree near the mousse or ironn
coop.
! A turkey having been obtained, the next trans
action n TO prepare it for the table. The second