School Kids in 1903 Explain Why Thanksgiving Turkeys are Important
Kids Say the Darndest Things may be a television show, but kids have been saying what’s on their minds – and amusing adults – for centuries. In 1903, the Sioux City Journal in Iowa asked the city’s school children to pen an essay on Thanksgiving turkeys.
A sampling of the essays were published on Nov. 26, 1903. They were written by second and third graders at Armstrong and Bancroft schools. The published selection, the paper said, were “the most excellent” essays.
So what did the children have to say? Here are some examples. The misspellings are the children’s.
Kids Explain Thanksgiving Turkeys
“When Thanksgiving comes the turkey does not like it very much, because we kill him and eat him.” – Martlia McGinnis
“People eat turkeys for Thanksgiving… People eat turkeys and punkin pie for dinner. The turkey’s head is chopped off at Thanksgiving. The turkey does not like it very well.” – Donald Bruce
“The turkey is a big bird that struts like a proud lady. It has a big butful tail and a long neck and a thing that hangs over its bill.” – Eugene Rice
“The Turkey is very fat when yow lay him owt he lays flat. When yow take him to the bauarn he screak like a storm. Whem he is feis his best he does not think he is going to be dress.” – Jean Dager
“I like the turkey for dinner. He comes to visit us. He makes a good feast. The peopel suff him with dressing.” – Lawrence Kirke
“Turkeys have beautiful feathers… Turkeys catch people some time. Some turkeys are called gobblers because they gobble.” – May Flournoy
“First the turkey is killed. Second the turkey is cooked. Third the Hard girl puts in a platter and rushes to the table. People have minced pie for dinner. The have sauce, cranberries, turkey and then the all gobbled it down. We have preserve things too.” – Nathan Reingold
“Papa gave me a turkey and I thank him very much for the turkey and he said your welcome. I like Thanksgiving day because we have good things to eat. I like Thanksgiving very much, don’t I? We can have company and ants, uncles and Grama and Grampa.” – Ella Waitt
Where to Purchase the WWI Trilogy
This post is a companion piece to Melina Druga’s WWI Trilogy: Angel of Mercy, Those Left Behind and Adjustment Year. The trilogy focuses on Hettie and her family as they navigate the challenges and heartbreak World War I brings.
Angel of Mercy: A nurse reluctantly sacrifices her career for marriage. An impending war will change her, and her husband’s, life forever. Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover. Click here for a full list of retailers.
Those Left Behind: The brewing winds of war will soon rip the family apart. Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover. Click here for a full list of retailers.
Adjustment Year: A war nurse returns home. Society expects her to carry on as if the Great War never happened. But how can she? Available in eBook, paperback and hardcover. Click here for a full list of retailers.