A QUESTION
The Story of a Winter Night's Ride
i HE nowost idea, appropri
ate to Thanksgiving, is
that wild turkeys should
be farmed that Is to
say, bred regularly un
der conditions of semi
domestication. Oroltho
logical exports say that
It is entirely feasible,
and in tho adoption of
such a plan lies tho hopo
for tho preservation of
our greatest ganio bird from final ex
tinction. The wild turkey, of course, is a
species entirely distinct from tho
tamo bird with tho white-moated
breast. One reason why its preser
vation Is Important is that It lsr'
needed to contribute from timo to
time its hardy blood and much-prized J
game flavor to tho domesticated va- 1
riety by Interbreeding. Tho compar
atively dark meat of tho breast of
many of tho tamo turkoys that como
to market nowadays at tho Thanks
giving season is nttrlbutablo to such
matings, which aro cagorly sought
by tho knowing producer of feath
ered stock.
Tho wild turkey Is so notoriously
shy that most people would bo in
clined to Bupposo it incapablo of do
mestication. Such an lnfercnco, how
ever, according to tho expert, is a
mistaken one. Ab a matter of fact,
tho bird is not by nature much afraid
of man, but rather tamo and sod
nble, so far ns human beings aro con
cerned. In Massachusetts during
early colonial days there wero great
numbers of wild turkeys, and fre
quently they raado thpmsclves at
homo In the close neighborhood of
tho dwellings of settlers.
To day tho species 1b entirely ex
tinct in 'New England, nnd in other
parts of tho country tho fowl Is ex
tremely wild and hard to shoot not,
however, becauso of n natural shy
ness of disposition, but simply for
tho reason that it hus been hunted
nnd trapped so persistently. If wild
turkeys wero bred nnd roared on farms a mat
ter of no grent difficulty to accomplish, say tho
experts they would bo docile enough, nnd, with
proper protection, would multiply rapidly.
Tho fact that wild turkeys have maintained
their foothold to some extent in long-Bottled parts
of their old territory ns, for example, In Vir
ginia and Maryland appears to Indicate that it
would bo entirely practicable to restock portions
of their former ranges. But, inasmuch as tho
country anclnntly occupied by them Is now for
tho most part populated by human beings, it is
necessnry, in order to accomplish tho object sug
gested, that their multiplication shall bo encour
aged under conditions of nt least partial domes
ticationthat is to say, by farming tho birds for
pleasuro and profit.
It Is believed that, if propor protection wero
given to such enterprises by tho law, sporting
club nnd wealthy Individuals owning or lenslng
large tracts would gladly go into tho business of
breeding wild turkoys not for market of course,
but for tho pleasuro dorivablo from such an enter
prise. At tho present timo not n few such organi
zations nnd proprietors of great privato estates
maintain similar preserves for tho quail or "bob
white," holding field trials In competition, to test
tho ability of dogs to And nnd point tho birds.
Thcso field trials aro in reality dog races, and no
shooting of tho quail is allowed.
Where wild turkeys aro concerned, howevor,
there is no reason why such extenslvo preserves,
covering in some instances ninny thousands of
acres, should not afford admlrnblo sport under
suitable restrictions. Thero Is no form of outdoor
amusement moro delightful than turkoy hunting.
But, If farmers could bo porsunded to tako up tho
idea, and to breed the birds, thoy might sell shoot
ing privileges to sportsmen nt n rnto which would
put muoh moro money Into their pockets than
thoy could gain by sending tho fowls to market.
If tho business wore suitably managed farms of
COO to 1,000 acres would yield n larger rovenuo
from wild turkeys than from poultry, sportsmen
being usually willing to pay several times moro
for tho fun of shooting birds than tho latter would
fetch as markotablo game. For such purposes, of
courso, It would bo neither necessary nor deslr
ablo that the fowls should bo too tame. On tho
other hand, experience has shown that wild tur
keys aro not disposed to go far away from an ac
customed source of food supply.
The wild turkoy Is prollllc, and takes kindly to
civilization. Like Its tamo congener, it Is n grent
consumer of Injurious insects, particularly grass
hoppers, and as such would bo useful to tho farm
er. Tho female lays frpm 1G tp 20 eggs for u
"clutch," hut raises only ono bropd In a year.
Foxes, hawks and owls aro deadly onemles, but jt
would bo tho business of tho farmer to protect
the birds from thcso foes, ns ho does in tho case
pf hs form-yard poultry. As for human poach
ers, adequato laws for protection ngalnst them
wpuld have to bo passed; but the sportsmen, If
pneo they became Interested in tho mnttor, could
bo rolled upon to exert in this direction a power
ful Influence, which has novcr yet failed or suc
cess In affairs of the kind.
Jt spppiB difficult to renllzo that less than 100
years ago wild turkeys wero so abundant that
they often sold for six cents apiece, a vory largo
pno, weighing 25 or 30 pounds, occasionally fetch
ing as much ns 25 cents. To-day a largo sped
men, gobbler preferred, is worth 5. Tho species
jias bpen wiped out, not by sportsmen, but by pot
hunters, who kill the birds on tho rposts, trap
litem In pens, or lie In nmbush for thorn, attract
ing them within ensy shooting dlstnrco by imita
ting tho call of tho hen or tho young 'poult."
Op FJshor's Island, In Long Island t ound, a most
Interesting experiment has already L.on made In
Tib
mm
JBACK FROM TtiEHVHT
tho rearing of turkoj'B uuder seral-domcstlcatlon
though In this case tho Bpccles dealt with is tho
tamo ono. On this island, which is tho most suc
cessful turkoy farm in tho world, tho birds aro
permitted to run wild, and aro not oven rurnlshed
with any shelter, other than they can find nmong
tho trees nnd scrub. But plenty of corn is thrown
about whore thoy can get it.
In this artificial wilderness, ns it might bo
called, which covers an nrcn of about 4,000 acres,
tho turkoys got as close to nature as possible. In
deed, tho wholo Idea of their management Is to
let them nlono, Interfering with them as littlo ns
possible. In the winter time their heads often
froczo under their wings when thoy aro nt roost.
But tho oxposuro does them no harm; on tho con
trary, it renders them exceedingly vigorous, and
thoy nttalu huge size, tho gobblers sometimes
weighing ns much ns CO pounds when sent to
mnrkot.
Evory spring a few wild gobblers, trapped for
the purpose- in Virginia or tho Carollnns, aro In
troduced into tho flocks on Fisher's Island, to con
tribute fresh blood. This Is esteemed n matter of
tho utmost lmportanco. Our tamo turkoys aro no
toriously difficult birds to rear, under ordinary cir
cumstances, being dollcato. and liable to epidem
ics on which nccount many farmers havo glvon
up trying to rnlso thorn. Tho reason why Is sim
ply that thero has been too much in-breeding, nnd
tho stock hns lost its hardiness.
A number of varieties of tho tame turkoy havo
been developed by breeding, tho principal onc3
being tho Bronze, tho Buff, tho Slate, nnd tho
White, tho Black and tho Nnrragansett. The
White was originally au albino. But nil of those
aro derived from n single species, which is of
Mexican origin. There Is only ono othor known
species, which Is native to Yucatan and Guatema
la. It Is called tho "ocellated turkoy," owing to
tho fact that Its tall Is ornnmonted with oycB like
that of tho peacock. It Is ono of tho most beauti
ful of birds, Its feathers blazing with metallic re
flections of gold, green, bluo nnd bronze.
999999999999999999999999999999999
imago nnd after his likeness. Thore
is n dlvlno olomcnt in our naturo
that enables us to think Qod'i.
thoughts in tho facts of naturo ns
well as In tho words of Scriptures.
Tho nnturnl world Is a product of
thought devclopod nnd governed by
a system of dlvlno laws that aro al
ways In force. God has planned nnd
mndo laws by which wo Hvo,
breathe, walk, boo, hear, think, talk
nnd learn tho meaning of things.
How our Heavenly Father has
planned tho unlverso for mnn's com
fort and how thnnkful nnd happy
man should be!
Mark tho difference between tho
accomplished Christian gentloman
and man In his uncivilized stato and
then bo thankful for tho Gospel nnd
what tho discovery of tho laws of
naturo has dono for you. Open your
mind to 8eo how God planned tho
laws of steam and electricity in
keeping with man's capacity to util
ize thcso forces and thus bring joy
and comfort to human hearts. Go
through your houso, look and think
ns you go. You will bco things of
nrt and culture ovorywhero books,
magazines, nowspnpors, pictures,
nnd conveniences, nnd works of nrt
bearing tho mnrks of tho dlvlno in
man, which means you who look.
When In tho city you mny look
around ami notico tho buildings, nnd
works of man, nnd remember that
the pcoplo who havo dono all thoso
wonderful things nro members of
your family. God is their father and
ho has given them n task you could
not do. Thoy nro doing tho work
und you nro getting tho bcnoflt of it.
God has given every person a re
ligious nature. It 1b n sourco of
great comfort nnd joy. Aro you
wenry? "I will glvo you rest." "Lot
not your heart bo troubled." "My
peaco I lcavo with you." Thoso aro
God's promises. Thoy should mean
much to us. Aro you poor and home
less? Turn your thoughts on tho
Saviour's promises and plcturo to
yourself tho golden city; locnto your mansion, re
colyo your old friends, tell them to como in. Thnnk
ful? How can ono help but bo thankful? Tho
Christian's spirit is tho thankful, happy spirit.
Evory porsou Bhpuld have It. It Is tho conquering
spirit, It never meets defeat. No matter whoro
one is or how sad. tho conditions of llfo, tho hopos
of heaven nro always bright. Tho Christian, hap
py spirit always has something worth while to do.
Tho wickedness of tho world 1b round ub. Throw
a dash of Gospel sunlight along tho pathway of tho
sln-sufforlng friend. A light in tho darkness Is what
ho needs. Smile on him. Let him sco your glad
ness when ho would oxpoct to boo sorrow.
Tho thankful spirit brings gladness in all condi
tions of llfo. Thero nre beautiful characters among
tho needy ns well as in clegnnt homes on tho boule
vards. If tho rich can afford to adorn their homes
and beautify them and pay tho price I will onjoy
their beauty and render thanks. Thoro Is n differ
ence In men's natural attainments. They nro God
mado and nro needed for tho Improvement nnd com
fort of mankind. Without thorn thoro could bo no
schools, no truo progress, nnd what would wo do
without tho conveniences mndo posslblo through
tho labor of others. Thoy nro necossnry to tho com
forts of our homes and in every department of tho
work of life. God holp you to look and boo ronaons
to bo thankful every dny of your life. Rev. J. B.
MacGufflu.
For the Thanksgiving
Dinner
i
p '
ful Heart
Giving thanks always for all things unto God
and tho Father In tho name of our Lord Jesus
Christ. Epheslans v:20.
Tho thankful spirit is the truo and suro sourco
of a happy llfo. Thero aro plenty of things to bo
thankful for, nnd it Is wise to mako an effort to
find them. They nro novor far awny. Thoy aro
under our control. Wo nro their mnstors. God
mado us that way. Wo may bo in touch with very
disagreeable people, but if wo do not llko dls
agrooablo feelings wo need not havo them, Thero
nro many good things to think of with reference
to such pcoplo. Bo n missionary to them. Think
how nice It would be If such a person had a sweet
disposition and lot your own radlnto Its virtues,
Wo can rejolco and bo glad no matter whoro wo
arc. Paul and Silas sang hymns while, in Jail.
Why not? It was bad enough to bo in Jail. God
was good to thorn. Ho rovealod to them facts of
eternal llfo. Thcso wero good things to think
nbout, and why should thoy not enjoy them? To
sing was a reasonable thing to do. God had giv
en them something against tho day of troublo and
thoy used It. Why should not wo? What is tho
uso of being miserable when wo can Just as woll
bo happy? God Is noar us In tho Joys and com
forts of llfo as well as In our trials and tompta
tlons. Wo havo good reasons to bo thankful un
der all cpndltlons of llfo. Tho sun nlwnys shines
no matter about tho clouds. Daylight is a good
thing, but tho best thing s, Qod created us In b3
Tho delicate flavor of tho pumpkin is dovolopod
only by n long and gentlo nppllcntlon of hent, so
when preparing It for pies nlwnys stow it for throe
or four hours, then mix It with tho othor Ingredi
ents, To each cupful of pulp add two well beaten oggs,
half n cupful of sugar, u tablospoonful of corn
starch, dissolved In a cupful of cream, half n ten
npoonful each of ginger and clnnnmon nnd u ten
spoonful of lemon oxtrnct; ndd n lnrgo tablespoon
ful of molted butter nnd 1111 tho pasto full with this
mixture Bako brown In a moderate oven.
Although tho observnnco of Thnnksglving Is par
ticularly a northorn custom, tho following rcclpo
for Virginia pudding is given In tho Housekeeper
ns appropriate to tho occasion.
Turn ouo pound of stoned rnlsJns, ono pound of
drlod currants, one-fourth of II nmitlll nt nltnin
sliced thlu Into n lnrgo mixing bowl nnd dredgo
well with Hour, Add hnlf a pound of frosh suot
cuoppeu sinnu, then mix tho wholo thoroughly. In
nnothcr bowl cream one-half nonml nt lmttni- with
an equal weight of augnr; add to this mlxturo tho
yolks of six eggs beaten smooth nnd one pint of
ncn, swcei miiK,
Whip tho whiten of the eggs vory stiff, then ndd
them alternately with ono and a quarter pounds of
sifted flour to tho mlxturo. Then stir Into It tho
Julco nnd grntcd rind of ono lemon, ono teaspoon
ful oach of cinnamon nnd cloves, one-half toaspoon
ful of mace, ono grated nutmeg and one-half tea
spoonful Of soda dissolved In n lllll
Lastly, add tho fruit, stirring and beating vigorous.
iy unui me wnoio is thoroughly mixed.
Pour Into a woll floured middlne lnt?
plenty of room for swelling, drop Into n roomy pot
ui uuimm water nnu uou continuously for five
hours. Servo hot with a sauce mndo ns follows:
Cream together ono cuiiful of whli ft nnirnf ntul
lump of butter tho sjzo of nn egg. When smooth
aim wnuo, i.eat in uio grntcd rind of n lomon and
it.,. ...i-i i. . --
mu wmppeu wiwq oi an efig-
Ltd.) I
(Copyright, by Short Stories Co.,
"All that n skillful, Intollleont nhvsl-
olan could do far bin natlcnt vou
havo dono for mo. Hnrr Prnfnnnnr. and
yet af tor these many weeks my shat
tered nerves nro no stronger, my
tlhvslcnl condition nn hnttnr. Thoro.
foro, although l touch upon tho sub-
joct wim cxtromo reluctance. I reel It
my duty to mako n confession which
will help you bettor to understand my
mysterious mnlndy." With n quiot mo
tion of the hnnd tho doctor Invited fur
ther confidence, nnd thn rmli. linccrnrd.
but still beautiful woman began:
"I nm only 21 venra old. but
strangers would tako mo for almost
twlco that ago. Not so very long ago
i was a blooming, vigorous young crcn
turo In perfect health, unconscious of
the meaning of nerves. About throo
years ago I married; my husband owns
inrgo estates, pnrtly near Vienna,
Partly In Gallcla on tho Russian fron
tier, from which our nmplo Income
Is derived. Wo lived for n timo In
lennn with my husband's nnrenta.
and later at our country houso in
Lodnnjn, whero my littlo daughtor was
born a frail, tlnv croaturo whnnn hold
on llfo soomod alarmingly slight."
Hero tho young woman unused for n
moment, overcomo by painful memories.
".Vou can woll Imnnlno how wo
adored this child; liow Its ovory
breath, ovory mollon, claimed our
eager nttcntlon, Wo woro as ono In
our lovo for our littlo baby, though It
scorned ns if my husband tried
nt times to outdo mo in tender-
Hess. Ho would oven ropronch me
though with tho soul of irontlennsn In
his tone for loving tho child less
than ho did. Thin wnn nn Intnntlnn
or course you woll know, doctor, that
no man could lovo a child as Its moth
er loves- It but later this reproach
assumed nn ominous meaning. I
should ndd that my huabnnd loved ma
as truly and faithfully as I loved him;
no was mo soul or gentleness nnd
goodness townrd mo. nnd wns hob-
scssed of a tact and fineness of feol-
'"ft iuiu iiuiuuH IIIUII.
"But to my story. It wns winter.
nnd wo woro staying nt Lodnaja, noar
mo uounuary or Ilussln. Ono day a
tolegrain came announcing tho dnngor
OUS illness of my huahand'a mnthnr.
and begging that wo, Including tho
uauy, start at onco for VIonnn. Tho
probably dylnir womnn vnrnnd to nnn
nil hor bolovod ones onco moro bo-
foro tho end enmo. It wan nn trlfllncr
ordeal for mo. with n dollcato child
not yet a year old, to mako bucIi a
journey in uio depth of wlntor, but
Wlio could refuso tho lnat wish of n
beloved mother on hor death bed?
"Wo mado tho nocfisaiirv nrnnnrn.
Hons With nil nosalbto hnatn. nnd n
row hours later Woro anatnd In thn
sleigh which was to tako us tho long,
ucaointo stretch, threo hours across
country to tho nearest railway station.
My husband drovo, Boated alono on
mo iront sent; I, behind him, held our
child warmly wrapped in rura; wo
took no attendants.
"It grow dark vorv narlv; thn lm.
measurablo desort of snow lay boforo
us in n dcnthliko nloon under thontnn.
strown heaven. Tho snow crncklod.
an Icy frost cnught our breath. Our
horn's wero excellent: if thov hnld
their pneo and no nccldent occurred,
wo might hopo to roach tho station by
ti odocic that night.
"My baby slopt calmly In my arms.
"About ton o'clock tho innon man
behind ua glgantlo, rod, wavorlng on
tho ?dgo of tho oconn of snow. I
looked back, nwed with tho eplondor
or tho scone tho widening clrclo of
light Which BCCmed to Iiniir ilnvvri nnnn
us llko a glistening Icy stream. Sud
denly, quito at tho edgo of tho whlto
world, far. far distant, as If nvnlvmi
out of nothing, a small dnrjt mass ap
peared, with changing outllno which
seemed to follow In our wnko. For a
row momonts I felt no uncnslnoss, but
as tho dark blot drow nenror, O my
God! I know then tho nwrul truth: It
was tho wolves a groat, rurloua.
starving pack!
"Fleet, nolselosp, ghostllko, thoy
sped toward ua. om Btroncer nnd
swifter than thn othors leading.
"I grlppea my husbnnd's shouldor;
at tho samo Instant a wolf howled n
honrso cry of mennco which found
echo in n scoro of cngor, famlBhcd
throats. My huaband raised his whip
and struck tho horses with full force;
llko a boat on n high wnvo tho slolgh
lurched as tho frightened beastB
dashed forward, Bohlnd us tho
howling ceased, but on tho frozon
snow wo could plainly hoar tho patter
ing foot-boats of our pursuers.
"Dumb with IntonBo foar, I hoard, as
If In a dream, tho strained, unnatural
volco of my huaband, muttering: 'If
tho horses can hold out, If nothing
breakB, wo may pull through; wo may
bo saved. God, wo must arrive in
tlmol'
"With novor n glanco behind, ho
eanod forward and struck tho horses
jlow after blow. Ten minutes crawled
twny our pursuers seomod n trlllo
arthor bohlnd and a flutter of hopo
tirred my frozen soul. I held tho
looping child Hrmly In my nrms and
ounted tho seconds nloud, (iO by GO.
Jeforo the end of tho tenth minute I
iaw with horror that tho pack was
gaining upon us. Wero tho horsos flag
ging, or were tho hideous creatures
doubling their speed? Frequently now
a prolonged howl broke tho stillness,
which, far more than the whip or
tho volco of tho driver, urged the
horses to supremo effort.
"Hopo left mo. My mind was u con
fused blur as one wolf after another
bounded forwnrd to within a few yards
of us. Plcturos of such ecenos with
their horriblo ending, of which I had
henrd nnd rend, crowded upon my
memory. Should wo cut ono of the
horsos looso to dolny tho catastrophe?
But boforo this could wbe dono, we
would nil bo lost. It only Barry, our
faithful dog, were with us in the
eloign!
"I rcmemborcd hearing In my child
hood of ono of our peasants saving his
llfo by throwing to tho wolves a young
calf ho had bought at market that
morning,
"If I myself wero to spring out?
"Then oh, tho horror of It all! Doc
tor, you porhnpB, ns a physician, can
understand tho monstrous Inhuman
thoughts that tako shapo in a fevered,
distractod brain. Thero was tho child
should I ? At tho hldeoua fancy I
burst Into loud hysterical wooplng, my
lips bled with the print of my teeth, I
struggled with myself as If with a dov-
lllsh roe. But, ah, hoi" tho suffering
crcnturo hero broko down in a flood of
hysterical tears "tho hateful thought
enmo again nnd again; whirled wildly
In my poor, distractod brain; pos
sessed mo, tortured mo, maddened me
with florco persistence.
"I screamed nloud to rid mysolf ot
tho thought scroamod till tho horses
took now fright and. sprang oven fast
er but tho black thought hold grim
hold. Tho woIvob woro nlmost upon
tho sleigh close, closo behind mo. Tho
compulsion to commit tho awful deed
gripped nnd mnstored mo with un
speakable misory.
"Tho road lod Into n wood. My hus
band gavo novcr n glanco bohlnd he
only grimly held hlmsolf togotber and
lnshcd, lashed, lashod at tho strain
ing horses. It wns donsoly dark' in
tho woods; tho wolves howled inces
santly now. Ono, breathless and pant
ing, vaulted In long, agile bounds
closo bosldo us.
"Then with trembling hands I drew ju
my child, my sleeping baby, closor, -pressing
her to my breast till she
awoke and began to cry. I stilled her
walling, which pierced mo to - the
heart, with a torrent of kisses and
wild, foolish baby chattor. I shud
dered in ovory limb; a torturing un
rest overwhelmed mo; a longing to
strlko myself anything to end this
tcrrlblo, unendurnblo tonslon of mind.
A strnngo oloctrlc fluid soomod to
surgo through my nrm. Then I shall
novcr know tho truth did my grasp
suddenly wenkon? God is my wltnoss.
I nm innocent. I havo no moro roc
ollcctlou of mysolf or ray action. Then
suddenly tho howling of Uio wolves
drowned all olso tho child lay on the
snow bohlnd tho slolgh." Tho young
womnn covered hor faco with hor
hands, her frail body shakon with the
vlolonco of hor sobs.
After n short pauso sho continued In
a changed, dry, expressionless volco,
sponklng In shnrp dotnehod sen
tences: "As wo emerged from tho wood I
regained consciousness; tho wolvos
woro out of sight and hearing; red
lights glenmod forth; a boll sound
ed. Wo had reached tho station. My
husband lifted mo gontly from the
slolgh and laid mo on n bench. Pooplo
busied thomsolvos over mo with ro
Btoratlves and much kindly commls
orntlou. My husband's eyes woro brim
ming with tears, but ho uttered not
ono word, oxcept sometlmos. to mur
mur my name. Thoy lifted mo Into
tho train. For many weeks In Vlonna
I hovored between llfo and death. My
husband novor lett my bcdsldo. Very
slowly I woro on to a partial recovery.
"Wo traveled ovor sea and land,
searching for tho spot that would ben
ollt mo, but it has all been in vain
nothing helps mo,
"Of that horriblo night wo have
novor spoken ono word. My huBband
is unspeakably good to mo, moro ten
derly solicitous than ever boforo, but
this nwful spoctor is always botweon
ub. I can never look In my dear ono's
oyes. I dread always tho question lurk
ing in them tho unbearable, search
ing, haunting question: 'Did you with
intention do that nwful deed?'"
Alive to Opportunity.
Ico croam parlors In tho "lobster
bolt" hi'vo not boon slow to tako ad
vantago of tho commercial' possibili
ties for them in tho reported discov
eries of tho north polo. Tho day
aftor Dr. Cook announced that ho had
reached tho top or the earth an Ico
cream emporium noar Forty-second
titrcot added to its bill a "Dr. Cook
rreozo." What tho Ingredlonts woro
wns not divulged. When Commander
Peary Informed tho world that tho
polo was his, anothor concoction was
added to tho list. It was called a
"Peary polo." Tho composition of
this Is also In doubt, but thero is ico,
to roprcsont icebergs, nnd a straw In
tho mlddlo, which Is supposed to be
tho polo. Those nro tho most popu
lar itoms on tho bill now. Nqw York
Tribune.
t
