A Peculiar Criticism

Forney Tribune
Tuesday Morning, 2 July 1889, Page 2

Uncle Natt Stevens of Forney in an article on ostrich raising in California in the Tribune says:

“An ostrich farm is for the raising of ostriches and they are raised for the production of their feathers and their feathers are for sale.”

This is most remarkable, in fact, nothing equals it. However he failed to tell us what the purchasers of the feathers do with them. This is important. Uncle Natt does say, however, that —

“When the time comes to pluck their feathers the birds are stalled and carefully blindfolded, for fear that the officiating clergyman may without ceremony be kicked through the fence; as he becomes exceedingly angry while pulling his feathers out and his kick is the most swift and dangerous ever excited among the muscles and tendons of animal nature.

Now Uncle Natt, is it the bird that becomes angry while the clergyman pulls his feathers, or is it the clergyman who becomes angry while pulling his feathers, and is it the kick of the clergyman that is the most swift and dangerous ever excited among the muscles and tendons of animal nature. If it’s the clergyman that does all this they must have queer preachers in California. And they must be kickers from Kickersville. –Kaufman Sun.

The above humorous criticism by the Sun on Uncle Natt Stevens’ article that appeared in the TRIBUNE last week, was given to him for perusal.

Uncle Natt stated that to be more explicit with those who cannot understand, in answer to the first question, that the feathers are sold for various purposes too numerous to mention. To the second, that in California the person that plucks the bird of its feathers is called a clergyman, and they have to be very particular in handling the bird or they will be kicked as it is the only means of defense the ostrich has. He further stated that he thinks he “has fully explained all the questions asked;” and to please tell the editor of the Sun to “Drag it out of him.”