The Big Prize Turkey.

Manawatu Herald, 19 December 1899, Page 3

The Big Prize Turkey.

* " A Mrrry Christmas, Boh," sail Scrooge, with an earnestness that cou'd do be mistaken, as he clapped him on the back "A menier Chr stmar,, m good fel ow than I have given you many a year- I' I raiw your sa ary, and we wi I discuss you affairs this ai ernoon ov> r a bowl of smok ing bishop. Make up the fi es an I buj another coal-scuttle, Bob Cratctait." And as to the big p izc 'urkey wbich thi regenerated Scrooge s-nt to Camden t ow do we not all know what son of bi d it wa ', Tha> turkey never cou d ha^e a nod upoi its legs, Mr Dickens spvs. They rim si have snapped short off tike sticks o sea'ing wax. How they managed to cool and eat that phenomenon th° authoi doesn't say, as it was twice the size o] Tiny Tim. Y^t they did itsnnvh^w, anr it was a mTcy if the family (previous j half starred) didn't all fall i'l of tlit unwonted gorging of that wonderfu Cbristman day. Even assuming (as we easily may) thai the transmutation of an o d skinflint like Scrooge in'o a high priest of charity •• us gute beyond the common run of modern miracles, and that dinners from such sources are as rare as they are we'come, it Btill remains true that human nature is apt to be at its best at Christmas, especially in England, where, of all countries in Christendom, most is made of that kind'y holiday. % Yet, sad to tell, the very jollity and generosity of Christmas leads to regretable excesses. People eat and drink too much, and suffer accordingly. The roast and the boiled, the mince pies, the plum puddings, tremendous flourish of wine, beer, and other beverages, these things overload (he stomach and give the digestion work more work than it can do, and punishment follows. For Nature has no favourites ; she treats those who violate her laws on thS 25th December exactly as though they had committed the offence on the "first Monday in Angus". And as to the chronic dyspeptics, of whom there are enough in this o'd island to oraTJ all the parks in London, they catch it fearfuVy about Christm* s-time. For, in spite of all warnings, they wil! go in for heavy meals and take the chances. Often the penalty is an acute attack which may threaten life, and neary always weeks of pain and digestive disord rs, whereof there are many kinds as the body has organs and functions. To them Christmas may be " merry " for an hour or two ; then their merriment turns into misery, as October fogs and rains succeed a hot summer. Now the writer is far from indulgence in the gustatory and bibulous festivities of the country's most popular holiday, but there is no use protesting against the fixed resolution of the people to enjoy themselves on that occasion. The customs and traditions of centuries are behind it, and you might as well whistle in the teeth of a north-east gale. As a prophylactic and a cure for the evils alluded to, I can only recommend the universal use of Mother Seigel's Syrup, known to all as the best stimulant and digestant in the world. In a letter datpd January 10, 1899, a gentleman of Birmingham, who loves the pleasures of the table, ar>d has money enough to buy whatever he wants, writes thus: — "It is on'yfair that I should thank you, as I do with al' my heart, for the good done me by Mother Seigel's Syrup. For years I have been vexed with indigestion, and a'ways had a tormenting spell of it after any public banquet or uncommon intake of rich food. Sti'-l, I wng seldom able to resist temptation, although I understood perfectly well what yielding to it was sure to costume. I have sought a preventive or a cure in vain at the hands of the best phyaicians, all of whom assured me that there was but one way, namely, to live on a low diet and let luxuries alone. " But this does not suit me, and I broke through the regulations frequently, with the inevitable results. However, when I began to use Mother Seigel's Syrup I had (almost) a license to do as I p'eased. After an inviting but most risky dinner last Christmas I took a double dose of ' Mother Soigel,' and scarce'y suffered at a'l. I told my experience, and a dozen friends adopted this amazing remedy right off. I am convinced that, with a little caution, and a dose of Mother Seigel's Svrnp now and then, one may bid defiance to dyspepsia and the abominab'e ailments it sets up. Thanking you a thousand times, I am, yours truly, John Macfarlane." With theße fads we wish a merry (and a healthy) Christmas to the British peop'e.