Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-11-21
King Turkey on
Path to "Clory''

u
To the martial music of brass bands
10000 Thanksgiving turkeys march
down the broad street between the
gaily decorated buildings as the cheer
ing multitude applauds the strutting
battalions. For Turkeyville-any one
of the half-dozen Texas towns which
help supply us with rare meat for
the festival holiday boards cele-
brating the one red-letter holiday of
the year.
Row upon row until their lines
stretch into the far distance in SHIN
mering colors of red, white and bronze
come the multitude of turkeys. Fluffy
white privates, bronze corporals, coal
black lieutenants, dull red sergeants
and gold-bedecked majors and colo
nes push out their wishbones a little
farther as they pass the mayors re-
view stand and add bit of swagger
to their gait.
On and on they march, until mile
Or more of the trotting turkeys have
passed up the main street. ever get
ting closer and closer to that ignoble
fate that makes this truly the march
of death" and reach the end of that
long and treacherous maneuvering
which insures to the American con-
sumner his Thanksgiving turkey. While
Ndmiring throngs to the right, APP
0lauding people to the left, cheer the
turkeys on, the leaders are marching
through the gates of the large dress
ing plant into the very Jaws of
death, Earle W. Page writes in the
New York Evening Post.
All Hail King Turkey.
Among the harvest festivals of
America, Turkey day" stands out
unique, linking the Pilgrim Fathers
love of the tender, juicy breast of wild
turkeys with the modern popularity
of this piece de resistance of the an
nual holiday table. On this day, the
turkeys are hailed as the absolute
monarchs they will later become for
mally upon the throne of the Ameri-
can Thanksgiving dinner table. For
this is Turkeyville, in the heart of
Turkeyland--a land of magnificent
distances. vast grain ranches and
wealth of climate, which makes the
empire natural ranging country for
the most beautiful and profitable of
our farmyard fowls.
tn FrnrCnVl0nd hos tic
turkey dressing plant. to which all
turkeys intended for the holiday ia
Bile, for many miles about, head early
in November While a few are brought
in motor trucks, most of the thou
sands each liant prepares for market
are driven IN great flocks. after the
fashion of thrilling western cattle to
market.
A dozen me1 are required to han
die these large flocks, and shelled
corn is scattered to the leaders to
keep them moving. When night comes
stop is made tnder grove of trees,
where the fowls may rest. Early the
next morning he journey is contin-
ued, man driving ahead in cart and
scattering handfuls of corn now and
then, to keep The leaders headed in
the right direc. ion.
Thus ii is tfat, during the two or
three days prior to the big turkey
day" celebration great flocks of tur-
keys are beirg driven over many
roads toward the town. Sunrise of
the morning of the big event finds
host of turks ready for the final dash
down the main street to the dressing
plant. 1t also ends the multitude of
King Turkeys hinterland gathered
along the street to participate in the
celebration.
After the flock has paraded into the
large corral of the dressing plant, and
the army of killers, pickers and pack
ers have started in dead earnest TO
wind up the seasons work, that the
| refrigerator cars of dressed turkey
may start on their long journey across
the continent, the milling multitude
enjoys all manner Vt pastime, from
real turkey trot' dalcing to gay cere-
monies characteristic of the South
west.
In the days of the Pilgrims, fiocks
of wild turkeys struttel in unrestrict-
ed pride and splendor Trough the for
csts of New England. Doubtless the
red man introduced the sarly settlers 10
the creamy taste of the white and the
succulence of the darl meat Of the