The monitor., 1928-11-23

When the wild turkey became ex-
tinct, the domestic bird, now a ma
tional favorite in Thanksgiving feasts,
found way to popularity. There Is an
impression that America imported the
present species of turkey from Europe.
but the fact is just the reverse. Amer
lean turkeys were introduced first In
Spain three centuries ago. and through
processes of cross-breeding the pres
ent delight of Americas Thanksgiving
day was evolved.
Poultry raisers express the fear that
unless the government experts at
Washington, who are working on the
problem. discover methods whereby
domestic turkeys may be fortified
against disease and proneness to die
under adverse weather conditions, it
will not be many years before turkeys
will go the way of the dodo bird-be-
come extinct Farmwives, In many
parts of the country. do not attempt to
raise turkeys because of the prevalence
or disease known as blackhead and
Iimberneck. The governments experts
are exerting every effort TO find cures
for these diseases. but complete sue
cess has not yet been attained. al
though a few remedies have been
found fairly successful Heavy rains
are hard on baby turkeys. which drown
easily.
Turkey Supply Falling Off.
The result of these failures in tur-
ished production, and, of course, prices
soar In consequence. Southern In
diana, Kentucky and Tennessee, In the
last several years. have been showing
increased production In turkeys. Most
of the birds that find way to the met
ropoIitan markets are from Texas and
other Southwestern states, where the
climate is right and there is plenty Of
room for range. New England states.
original home of the American turkey,
do not now produce enough birds to
supply the demand for the metropoli-
tan markets. although every hotel In
New York, Boston and Philadelphia
announces on the bill of fare, "Ver-
mont turkey" or Rhode Island tur-
key The storage houses are filled
with dressed turkeys that have jour
neyed out of the West, south and
Southwest to make Thanksgiving a
day of feasting for metropolitan cpl
cures.
Americas Thanksgiving dinner has,
In the last twenty years, become a sort
of international banquet. The turkey
Is United States institution, but one
finds on the table now Irish potatoes a
la Hollandaise, or Spanish style; vege-
tables from the Imperial valley Of
Mexico, figs from Egypt, nuts and
coffee from Brazil, almonds from Italy,
grapefruit from Porto Rico, French
pastry and perhaps Turkish cigarettes.
Thanksgiving day amusements have
undergone as great changes as the bill
of fare. The observance, as originally
planned by the forefathers, called for
attendance at church and an outpour-
ing OF gratitude for health and bounti-
full harvests. The Purftans held 1t to
be q day OF Sabbathlike sanctity. As
the years rolled on, the element of re-
joicing entered into the spirit Of the
day, and, after church In the forenoon
and feast at noon, the men engaged
in mirthful games and banter, while
the women sat around the 3settin'
room" and gossiped Of affairs that held
their interest. In the country com
munities there were games Of horse
shoe pitching, hopskip-and-jump, foot
races and wrestling matches. Men Of
the neighborhood We'd with each other