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RAFFLES

Eges were exchangeable at the stores for nousehold supplies and other small purchases; in fact, their worth as a barter item was a couple of cents per dozen higher than their cash value. For this reason, every farm ~ kept a flock of nens. Many also kept ducks for which the city provided a ready market. A few raised turkeys, but the demand for turkeys was rauch les:

than for geese.

| Some people disposed of their surplus geese by way of what was known as a "raffle." They invited a group of card-playing neighbors to their homes and set up tables with four or more players at each. The game played was the popular "straight forty-five." A goose was put up at each table as

a prize for the ‘atdnex of the game; each player contributed a specified

sum of money, depending on the price of the g00se being raffled. This money was paid to the host as his payment for the bird.

Toward the end of the:evening, supper was served the players. Thus the occasion was a profitable ons for the sponsor and an enjoyable social event for all participants. For a number of years the raffle was extremely popular, but, unfortunately, some of the pluyers began bringing liquor: to _ the affairs. Even in strictly temperate card-playing groups, tempers OccaSionally flared; under the influence of liquor, minor differences frequently developed into heated arguments which were often settled by the fists. As a result, the raffles gradually fell into disrepute and were

eventually abandoned.

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