Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-12

Is skunk meat a table delicacy?
If invited to a banquet where skunk
and muskrat were featured as the
piece de resistance. endorsed by so
of the leading sportsmen of America,
who had eaten both rat and cat
meat. with great relish, then pro-
nouncing 1t par excellent, would you
slip your feet under the table-with
q growing appetite-then insist upon
being served with liberal portions.
Are peoples tastes changing along
the culinary and gastronomic routes?
Prairie chicken were declared
worthless as food by many of the
early settlers of the Middle West,
who branded them as crop menace
only. Coot or mudhen never graced
the bag of real sportsman in ye
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 numbers, are easily
"grassed," requiring very little hunt
ing skill or shooting accuracy. They
are now declared "toothsome" by
self-confessed connoisseurs, claim
ing they are fit for home consump-
ton, superior to either canvas-back
or red head ducks. A perverted
taste. In the fish kingdom, in days
gone by the gar, sheephead, hackle
back. stergeon and dogfish were
tossed into the food discard, they
are now unloaded on an unsuspect-
ing populace, under many camou-
f1aged names. Salted. cured, smoked
and faxed they have become a
'thirst-parlor" lunch counter deli
cacy. Is the acceptance of formerly
declared noreatable fish and game.
due to the scarcity of food. desire
to conserve. change of gastronomtc
taste. or toleration or acquired abil-i
itv to prepare food in manner,
whereby Objectionable features are
disguised or eliminated?
The late Judge A. K. Vickers, or
the Illinois Supreme Court, recited
to Judge George A. Cooke, of Aledo,
ILL.,, his associate member of the
bench, the story of an acquaintance
residing in Calhoun county, Illinois,
who was rated a most successful
wild turkey hunter. He was ever
ready to exchange a wild turkey for
a skunk carcass, claiming pole cat,
when properly dressed, was far pre-
ferable for eating purposes. Bogus
Island Shooting and Fishing Club, |
WlIn II preserve OIl dll lSlollu HI lllC
Mississippi river, five miles above
New Boston. Illinois, always staged
an annual novelty fish or game din |
ner. 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 aggre-
cation of epicures on the culinary |
value of skunk and muskrat VS.. sue |
culent possum meat, which was on
scientific trapping, meat conserving |
and game dressing. He caught, |
cleaned and artistically prepared a |
sufficient number of skunks and
muskrats for the announced possum
dinner; reserves of sweet potatoes,
mushrooms, peas and other acces-
sories were furnished to one of
Chicago's famous chefs, who devoted
every effort to make palatable the
succulent viands. Rich gravy, sub
merged the hot southern biscuit.
Parsley garnishment, embellished
the appetizing appearance of the
Drowned rhodents. Fifty members
and guests were present. Bounti-
full portions of meat were served,
many backed in" for additional
helps. Eulogies were pronounced
and compliments showered upon the
purveyor and his succulent possum.
That old times, ever popular melody