. . I i , I A Gathering the Annual Turkey Crop Off the Rhode Island Ooast. SCENES IN A FAMOUS TURKEY MART CuUlvalliiK' Uie Fluent lllril In the World ( ionil Care mill I'lenly tiT CriiNNlii > i > i > ers the Whole .Secret. 'Among ' all the ( jueor features of queer Industries carried on In queer out-of-tho way places It would bo hard to find anything more picturesque than the Thanksgiving har vest on Block Island. Though lllock Island Is only thirty miles off the Rhode Island coast , and lies almost midway between Montauk point and Point Judith , the Impression that It makes upon the visitor Is that of being far removed from every other part of the country. It Is the homo of fog and wind and dashing spray. Down to recent years It was seldom visited by strangers , but it has been "discovered" by the Hummer visitor , and from contact with this Invader Its people are less guileless * llflf.M * * marked , go to Boston and Now York , where their reputation Is known and their flno qualities appreciated. Slnco every little farm or plot on the Island has Its flock of turkeys , and the growing of the birds Is the principal land occupation of the place , the harvest Is now .on. Some of the scenes that are to bo met with are worthy the brush of a Millet. On days when the steamer visits the place a stroll of a couple of miles from the town will bring ono across a dozen great flocks of turkeys traveling In droves , llko cattle , toward the harbor. They are driven by women In short skirts , heavy shoes , woolen stockings and with queer little sunbonncts on their heads , or by boys In nondescript trousers , cowhide boots and southwcsters , the prevailing male attire. The drivers stroll along , silently except for the "cluck , cluck" with which they stir up a straggler or hasten their flock. The bird * march along as sedately as their masters and give the latter llttlo trouble , for they are well fed and lazy , and one can almost see the roll of their fat sides beneath the glossy feathers. At the landing the sccno Is ono that for plcturesqueness outdoes even .a Bavarian gocwe market. The birds stand together In compact patches of glistening color seques tered from neighboring flocks by their guard ing drivers. The buyers move about from ono group to another examining the turkeys or haggling with their owners over the price to be paid. The hum of voices Is now and then drowned by the resonant "gobble , gob ble , gobble , " of some red-wattled majordomo dome or punctured by the sharp "quit , quit , ' of a frightened hen turkey. There Is a pleas ant stir of life and chatter about It all thai $ f& r p3 SOUND ON BLOCK ISLAND. WIIHRK THE TUKKKYS IAUB DRIVEN I LI KG CATTLU TO MAHKKT. than they used to ho , They are quaint sea folk still , mest of them fishermen , and on land they carry on the Industry which has brought the Island much renown , and which , at this season , especially , gives It a strong claim on the affections of the American pee ple.Thl Thl unique business Is the rearing of the festive and succulent Thanksgiving turkey. Rhode Island turkey has a fame as far- Bprcadtng as that of Philadelphia chicken or Maryland terrapin. The turkey experts tell us , too , that thu particular brand ot the noble American bird produced In this quaint ocean oasts stands In the same relation to the ordinary Rhode Islander as that aristo cratic bird does to his less blue-blooded fel lows In York state , Jersey and the west. JOY OF TUB DLOOK ISLANDER. To the Block Islander turkeys are what his cattle are to the native of Holttteln or the the Isle of Jersey the objects ot bis chief concern and attention , When ono has been long OUOUBU on the Island to bo familiar with the earn and attention that Is lavished on Us turkeys there Is no longer any wonder that the Block Island gobbler Is the most arrogant bird on earth or that when turkey la quoted at 20 cents tbo Block Island brand brings 35 cents , ilost of the blrJs , It may bo re- is set oft by the blank expanse ot sea ui about. A few turkeys are killed and dressed or the Island , but most of them are driven 01 : board the steamer and carried ncross to the mainland a cackling , clucking freight where they pa&i through n poultry factory and came out ready to adorn the table. Some ot Ilia finest In each flock are. always kept through the winter for the next season's breeding , for the turkey farmers > .ro careful not to lot the quality of their stock deteriorate. CARE OF THE FLOCK. "How h It 'that your turkeys are always so largo and fine ? " was asked of one > : ld farmer who was counting over the fat neil ol bills ho had Jujt received from the buyer for his season's work. Ho turned toward mo with a shrewd Yankee smile as ho an swered : , " 'Caie , care and know how , that's the liull story. Wo folks over here ban been rasln' turkeys lor a oonsldelable time and 1 guess wo kn > w most all they Is to It. " "No doubt jotl do. That's Just ithe point I was driving at. " "Wall , care 'ull do It In turkojs Jest as In everything else , an' If I do say It , wo take p'tlcular care ot our birds. You can't keep turkeys up to the mark by any kind of In breeding , so every few seasons we bring In n lot of wild Toms and turn 'cm loose. That keeps up the quality and flavor. All the rest ot 'the ' secret Is Just In good caie. After the young turks is hatched out we lot 'cm run around to themselves so's 'to let 'em gut big , strong frames. Then long about mid-Sep tember cr first of October we shut 'em up In yards and' coops an' feed 'emon cornmeal an' fattcnln * grain. You see they can't run all their meat off 'that w.iy and they take on weight powerful fast. "They Is cne thing about It. though , " con tinued the old man , beginning again to count his roll. "Wo fellers do have ona advantage , an' 'that Is they's n , powerful lot of grasshoppers on this hero Island , and turkeys seem to take do hppers right well. " "Grasshoppers ? " I queried , gazing blankly out across the water. "How did they get here ? " The old man laughed. "That's what ovcrjboly aska , " ho saU , "an1 I 'don't ' set up for to answer. But hoppem ain't no great swimmers , an' It's a little far for a hop , o'.cp an' Jump , so I reckon they Just 'Mowed over , and' , seeln * it was the finest place on yearth , they Just settled down 'to ' stay like the rest of us. But they're mighty good turkey feed , howsum- ever ; they come an' we don't bear 'em no grudge , " and the old man chuckled again as ho thrust his roll of bills Into a capacious wallet. Tim Ii'lllST IMlOUljAMATIO\ . A lilt of Jllttlory Apiirnjirliilc to the , St'llNOll. The first proclamation of Thanksgiving day that Is to bo found In printed form , ac cording to the New York Sun , Is the ono is sued by Francis Bernard , captain general and goveruor-ln-chlef In and over his majesty's province of the Massachusetts bay In Now England , and vice admiral of the same , In 17C7. It reads as follows : "As the business of the year Is now drawIng - Ing toward a conclusion , wo are reminded , according to the laudable usage of the province , to Join together In a grateful ac knowledgment of the manifold mercies of the Dlvlno Providence conferred unon us In the patslng year : Wherefore , I have thought fit to appoint , and I do , with the advice of his majesty's council , appoint Thursday , the third day of December next , to bo a day of public Thanksgiving , that wo may thereupon with ono heart and volco return our most huniblo thanks to Almighty God for the gracious dispensations of His Providence since the last religious anniversary of this klud , and especially for that He has been pleased to preserve and maintain our most gracious sovereign , King George , In health and wealth. In peace and honor , and to ex tend the blessings of his government to the rcmotctit part of his dominions ? that Ho hath been pleased to bless and preserve our gracious Queen Charlotte , their royal high nesses the prince of Wales , the princess dowager of Wales , and all the royal family , and by the frequent Increase of the royal Issue to assure us the continuation of the blessings which we derive from that Illus trious house ; that Ho hath been pleased to prosper the whole British empire by the preservation of peace , the Increase of trade and the opening of now sources of national wealth ; and now particularly that Ho hath been pleased to favor the people of thin province with healthy and kindly seasons , and to bless the labor of their hands with a sufficiency of the produce of the earth and of the sea. "And I do exhort all ministers of the gospel with their several congregations , within this province , that they assemble on the said day In a solemn manner to return their most humble thanks to Almighty God for these and all other of Ills mercies , vouchsafed unto us , and to beseech Him , notwithstanding our unworthlncBs , t ? continue his gracious Providence over us , And I command and enJoin - Join all magistrates and civil officers to see that the said day bo observed as a day set apart for religious worship , and that no servile labor bo performed thereon , "Given at the council chamber In Boston the fourth day of November , 1707 , In Uio eighth year 'of the reign of our sovereign , Lord O/"ro the Third , by the grace of God , of Grei irltaln , Franco and Ireland , king , defender of the faith , etc.FUA FUA , BERNARD. "By hla excellency's command , A. OLIVER , Seo'y. "God save the king , " REMARKABLE CELEBRATIONS The Great American Fo.si Observed at ttraugo Times and PJaoes. ORIGIN AND GROWTH OF THE HCLI'JAY IlUlV XtMV Kllpllllll : ! TonlC II Ul | , HlMV Vll-Rllllll ( ) lll | > .MCll It Hllll HOW the Win'Aflrutuil ' It Cen- . nine IInine Day , When , In the year of grace 1030 , sturdy Governor John Wlntlirop coil the Puritan colonists of Massachusetts proclaimed and duly observed a "Public thanksgiving , " they probably hail little idea of the Importance which that festival was destined to abtalr. . In the history of America. The first Thanksgiving differed very ma terially from Its successors , In that It was proclaimed as a fist and not as a feast. Supplies ; plies hail run short , the ships expected fiom Fngland wcra delayed , and extinction threat ened the "governor and company of Massa chusetts bay in New England. " Winthrop and his council decided to hold a day of prajcr and abstinence , "so that ye Lorde bo propitiated and looho upon his servants with favor , In that they have humbled themselves before Him. " Accordlrgly a crier was pent about the primitive settlement of Charles- town , and the colonfsta were earh and all Invited to take part In the fast. Their cacrlflco met with speedy reward. Scarcely had the noon hour of the allot'ed day arrived when the lens-hoped-for ship made Its welcome appearance In Massachu setts bay , the cargo was landed , and the fast was succeeded by a banquet of a port which must have sojimed Eumotuous Indeed to the exiles so recently plunged In hunger and hardship. On the threshold of dreaded win-i tcr Winthrop and his followers found what had been a prcscect of fear and peril changed Into one of happiness and hope. Such wis America's first Thanksgiving , as celebrated 2C7 years"-jgo ? Thereafter cnch succeeding Novcmbcj ; vap marked In the ant-als of the colony by a sjimllar festival of gratitude. ' HOLIDAY WITH THE EARLY' HUTCH. But Thnnknslvlng in the early days of our History v\as \ not confined'to the Now. ITng' tid pioneers olone. . Just fifteen years after Wln- throp's proclamation , 1. ei , In 1015 , Governor Klcft of the Dutch colony , then , known as NIcuw Amsterdam , but now as New York , i ordered the observance- a day of rejoicing ; rnd thanks , "for the rest and peace which i God had been pleaced .to bestow upon his uervants. " Thus wo see that the fecal of Thanksgiving Is not , as generally stippMod , I a peculiarly Puritan Institution , but Is equally derived from the stalwart burghers of Manhattan Inland. The next notable Thanksgiving day In his tory fell In 1753. On that date the Ilrltlsli i and colonial army , numbering SO.OCO men , and ! i commanded by General Forbes , attacked and captured from the FYench , after a fierce ] struggle , Fort Duquonc , at the Junction of I the Allegheny end Monrngahela rivers. The liiamo of the p'aco wao changed to Fort Pitt land was the nucleus of the city of Plttsburg. I Thus In a special sense the history of the I great ccoltal of the cal and iron Industries Is connected with the celebration of Thanks giving day. At the same time an the British were con quering Fort Duqucsne , Whiteflcld , the ] famous Methodbt preacher , o-lled upon all his adherents In London to Join > i "service of the English arms on land and sea. " This British Thanksgiving was , we are told , widely observed , and awakened Intense enthusiasm , not only among the Methodists , but through out all the different sects. Whltedeld's Idea was afterward on several occasions revived In England. For Instance , In 1814 the gov ernment proclaimed a general thanksgiving for the victory of Waterloo. Again , t\o years later , In 1S1C , proclamation was made of a popular thanksgiving for the restora tion of peace. After the Crimean war u third Jubilation of this nature took place. THE FAST BECAME A FEAST. But meanwhile , In Now England , what had been begun as an occasional day of pious rejoicing , tad assumed the proportions of a fixed national holiday. In Masfachusetts and Now Hampshire It was especially popular. There was at first great latitude In regard to the day selected for the feast. Governors proclaimed the chosen date arbitrarily and no effort was made to keep the anniversary of Wlnthrop's proclamation. Sometimes Thanksgiving occurred In July , sometimes In midwinter. At length , through the cfforin of the president and professors of Harvard college. It was practically fixed upon the last Thursday In November. The college faculty -wore moved to Interest themselves In the question by thp foot thnt the uncertainty regarding the date caused considerable disorder among their pupils , Brys from different states celebrated en dif ferent days , many of them returning home to eat the Thanksgiving imcal under their own roof trees. ' This very undesirable state of afTalrr. could only the put a stop to , said the grave Harvard dons , by the formal estab lishment of'a'uniform < late for the fnast. The list Thiiisday of the eleventh month suited hecollegers , and , Influence being brought to bear upon the colonial governors of Now England , proclamations wore issued making thp/t / day the regular Thanksgiving. THANKSGIVING DAY IN fTHI3 SOUTH. In the south Thanksgiving , as an annual festival , lomalnod practically unknown until , In 1855. . Jho curl us Vlrgln.'an ' con troversy on the question was precipitated. This controversy , which Is not generally known , deserves a brief notice. The gov ernor of Virginia at the time was ono Johns , a patriotic niiil , 'broad-mludcd ' gentleman , whq had always .yiXcrtalnoJ a revcrenco for the 1'urltnn anniversary which was "by " no ineano common hoi -w 'Mason ' and DKon's line. Dover ; or Johns In n letter to the state legislature , urgently recommended 'tho recog nition of Thartoslvlni ? In Virginia , and of- fcrod , In case Jila recommendation proved satisfactory , to at once Issue a proclama tion. tion.But But ( 'ho ' legislature of Washington's itato did not look uron 4110 Now 'England ' holiday wHh favor. Governor Johns was advised not 'to'make I la' Tlianksclvlt , ; reclamation ; and , as he did not do s-o , the matter .was allowed temporarily to drop. The public Interest had been awakened , and 'before long a fierce ddbato was raging In Virginia be tween the opponents and supporters of the 'proposed ' southern Thai ) . ' < sslvlng. At last , In 1S57 , Governor Wlso Johns' successor took the metaphorical 'bull ' 'by ' the h-rns , and Issued a proclamation setting apart a day for the feast. Hta action cnuasd much ancry ; criticism , and several southern ncws- pnpors declared that Thanksgiving was sim ply "a relic of Puritanic 'bigotry. " In spite of this , the Innovation was warmly > wel- coined. The hospitable southerners greeted gladly another holiday , and the northern feast s.-on ranhe-3 among them as second In Importance only Is the "glorious Fourth" Itt'Olf. ' In 1S5S the year after Wise's proclamation no less than eight governors of southern states proclaimed Thanksgiving In 'their ' sections. The 'war , however , com ing shortly afterward , practically extin guished the popularity of the holiday In Dixie. AMERICANS CELEBKATE ABROAD. But It has become a. loved Institution In the middle , western and northwestern states. Exiled Americans , too , cling to its celebra tion , and every November sees Thanksgiv ing dinners In L-'ndon , Paris , Berlin , Homo or wherever some of the scattered children of Uncle Sam may chance to sojourn , In deed , .Mr. William Aator Chanlrr , the well known explorer , tells of a Thanksgiving dinner which ho enjoyed In the very heart of darkest Africa. An extensive and highly Interesting volume might be complied on the subject of Thanks givings and the events which have slgnall/ed them. For Instance , on Thanksgiving day , 1783 , the British army evacuated New York , while Washington and Clinton marched Into the city at the head of the continental army and took formal possession in the name of the young republic. Festivities and a grand display of fireworks closed that memorable day. Thanksgiving had fallen that year on December 25 , and the combination of evacuation day and that festival were long Jointly honored in New York. The Thanksgiving day of 1S1G is memora ble as the occasion upon which an Ameri can theater was first Illuminated with gas. I This event happened In Philadelphia. The experiment ) was n complete success , and the manager of the affair was Dr. Kugler. Dur ing the war , of the ibattles and skirmishes fouglit on Thanksgiving , the most notable was that of Lookout mountain (1SC3. ( ) A few odd and dfstlnctlvo methods ot colobrotlng the great holiday still survive In different parts of the United States , although the tendency Is 'toward a uniform manner of rejoicing. In sections ot Connecticut , for Instance , the "Thanksgiving barrel burning" la a time honored Institution. For a month before the day Connecticut boys diligently collect and store In a. place of security all the barrels , old or new , which they can find. All barrels are regarded as the property of whomsoever can carry them away. On Thanksgiving night the barrels are piled In a hugo heap and Ignited. Boya and girls then dance around the bonfire until the very last 'barrel ' has gene up In smoke. But , however the holiday Is kept whether with piety and prayer or with feasting and fervor whether In a spirit of mirth and fel lowship or In ono of gravity and patriotism Thanksgiving remains an . anniversary peculiar to these United States and shared by them with no other notion on the face of the globe , i&SASfa COOI > TIIIXHS ! ' ( ) THAXlvSClVl.\n. A Toi > i | > lliir | Dinner for Family PnrHe * _ lltMv l'reiiirocl. | It Is not only Thanksgiving dinner that Lady Bountiful Is expected to provide for , but she has the men or the family home for at least the day and In many cases a house lull of company tn look utter. With all ot this In view a few suggestions arc offered for look cloir llko arrowroot ; nnd chopped c psr anil some ot the caper vlncRnr. Sorye hot. UOAST TUIIKRY. For the ploco do resistance It tn well to RO I to market prepared to buy the beat , which IR always a. young , medlum-slml hen turkey. Mind that your purchase Is n thorough , "black leg , " for If the legs Incline to pnlrnrai Father Time hos been at work , The breast must bo broml nml fat , the akin very whlto Mid the neck short. If the legs are ted ami adorned with long spurs , these ore surd signs of an old gobbler. Nothing will so Int. provo n turkey and Rlvo It the desired holi day flavor as a studlng of mushrooms ami as Ihrflp are raised In such quantities for the market nowadays they are no longer an ex travagance. The stufilng Is made In this way A pound of nice tcnde- ham cut In dice when hot , add two pounds of mushrooms , a Hulo grati'd nutmeg , white pepper to taste and a Kiy loaf ( the ham suppllen enough Rait ) , blend nil together In the snucepui over a moJcrato fire until the ham Is cooked than put nsldo to cool. Stuff the crop out well and If any rrmalnn put It In the body of the turkey , then sew both neatly. The mush- i'"n .s.itico Is made by nddlng to the usual glblct gravy a few chopped mushrooms , Just roni liiTi' as to this familiar gravy , and that Is , after thu good In stewed out ot the gizzard , i eject It ami chop up only the liver 'i1 ' 'rart. There seems little to lo rn about niAsheil fH bill RII American woman visiting In Clmntllly at the Baroness do St. Dldlor's noticed that they \\ero pirtlcularly good ami was forlunato enough to be taken Into the kitchen to Interview llto chef. Ills method of preparing the potatoes so exactly coincides with the writer's views on the subject that It Is herewith given , When the potatoes ate tender , but not overdone , they are drained , sprinkled with a little salt , and then put In i pan In the oven for n fo\v minutes , to bo completely dried , mid Just here llos the no * crot of the feathery lightness that follows. They mv now to bo strained through a hot colander ( as for "rlccd" potatoes ) . Into the ho : saucepan , a large plcco of butter ayJ r- S'Sl t \ \ igc * * * uP' \ ' < - P' P'n various goodies and savories , both hot and cold , suitable to the season : THANKSGIVING DINNER. , Oysteis on the Hulf Shell. Oxtail Soup. Salmon Cutlets , Caper Sauce. Curried Kidney ( or Scilloped Sweet Hie Us ) . Hoast Turkey. Cranberry Sauce or Jelly. .Mashed Potatoes , Stowed Celery with White Sauce , Splnnch or Peas , Pumpkin and Jllnee Pics. Quaking1 Pudding with Soft Custard. Cheese SouIIles. Fruit. ' Nuts. Coffee. Oxtail soup Is very simple to make , Is In expensive and always a favorite ; it Is a good homo Eoup , acid yet nlco enough for any dinner party. Cut two oxtails In Inch bits mil fry brown on a hot ( > un , in a little butter , put them In a saucepan , fry a sliced onion In the same way , add it , and a small cut up carrot and turnip , a bay leaf , two or three cloves and salt and ucfipcr to taste , cover with two quarts of cle.ir stock ( w.iter will do , but not as good ) ; boll gently for two hours , or until the tails are tender , strain out the vegetables , add the tails and serve with croutons. A glass of heated sherry Is some times added at the last. SALMON Oil LOBSTER CUTLETS. An Inexpensive and easy way of making the fish course dressy and of excellent flavor are cutlets made from canned salmon iir lobster. Chop a can of salmon fine and mix thioughout a tcaspoonful of salt , a pinch of cayenne , Juice of half a lemon acid a tablespoonful - spoonful of chopped parsley. Bring a cup of cream to boiling point In the double boiler , then stir a tablespoonful of butter that has been mixed smooth with three of flour. Stir and cook about three minutes. This will bo very thick , but must ho so In order to hold the fish mixture together. Illcnd all thor oughly , and when cool form Into cutlet shape , roll first In egg , then In dried and sifted bread crumbs and fry In deep boiling fat. Place on mat of white , soft paper , garnish with parsley and servo with caper sauce , which Is madu by stirring a tablespoonful of flour Into one of boiling butter ; stir In a largo cup of boiling water ; it should then half a cup of hot milk added'then , bcalea to a pulp , add another bit of butter and send to the table , heaped lightly In the hot dish. Do nnt let the potatoes cook while preparing , only keep them ve-y hot. A well beaten egg stirred through these potatoes converts them into excellent croquette material. SPINACH. The French certainly prepare sphach In a way far Miperior to the ordinary method , and as 'It ' Is very simple and this voge able lo to be the standby for the coming month. * it IB well to introduce It at the beginning of the season. When the spinach I * ? boiled thor oughly tender and properly salted , of course free fiom every trace of grit , It Is to bo. thrown In the- colander and well drenched with cold water. This gives it a certain firmness and delicacy obta'ncd In no other way. It Is to bo shaken free from water , chopped fine and put In a hot saucepan and stirred with a tablespoon of bufcr ami two of cream until hot , when it In ready to bo heaped in the dish with poached or hard- boiled eggs on top. After celery Is cut up and soaked In colifl water for fifteen minutes , then cooked until tender , it must be drained In the cola > idef , thrown Into cold water to blanch and become - como firm and than thoroughly healed thrcugli in the white sauce made by mixing together a tablespoon each of butter ami flour In a hut saucepan ; when smco li adi\ g".adually half n pint of hot milk and quarter of a cup of the water In which the c lory has been boiled , add salt and white p J < IXT to taete. It this bus been carcfullj e n ill with a wooden spoon It will be entirely f > o from lumps and of a creamy wh tout * K the cold water balh la neglected tlio i suit will bo flat ncid discolored liulcad of.lmo and crisp. Quarter of a pound of gratoil rhco > r wo tablespoons of flour , enough bV.irbon'io of potash to cover n 10-cent bit , a bit of 1 , liter size of a walnut , two well-beaten eggs 1 ilf ft teacup of milk , cayenne and halt to JB'O ' , mix all well together , drop a tablosp' ' uful Into grc'SPd patty pane , tad put HI " 10 frtcamcr until set , turn out on a sieve t < ! , then dip In egg and breadcrumbs anJ ' "jlc brown In boiling fat. Seive hot Very good. The potash Insures dlgpsilon c Ihi * cheese , and Ifl a wholcnamo addition.