Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1856-11-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

THANKSGIVING Dsy.-To-morro" having
been designated by the local authorizes Vi
Washington city as a day of thanksgiving
almost all business will be suspended here,
throuvbout il. Asfew persons wall be at home
| or a, their stores and working places where we
| usually serve them with the Star, We shall Is
ms no paper on the day. We are not among
those who approve of the propriety of substi
tuting the thanksgiving day of Puritanism for
| the Christm as of the Scriptures. Its observ-
ance was originally designed, and is now for
the most part carried out at the North, from
whence we have imported it, as rebuke to
those who adhere to the propriety of observing
- Q religious holiday the received anniversary
Of the birth Of Christ. Where it is observed
by the major part Of society as aught but an
occasion for frOlic Of some sort or other, the
majority of the people pay as little attention
to the duty of observing Christmas day, as is
done here to that of observing All Saints day.
In the land of thanksgiving days-New Eng
land-indeed, the observance of Christmas
day is derided as a relic Of barbarism unbe-
coming the fast christianity OF the era, which
recognizes the Ward Beechers and Theodore
Parkers of the hour as its apostles and saints,
if not its very deities. There, the majority Of
society hardly know when Christmas comes
and goes. Gradually this ct Thanksgiving
day" is wedding out from among us of the Dis
trict of Columbia the legitimate christian holt
dsy-the day Of universal Thanksgiving to
which refer above; for, we remember well
when it was the occasion, of all occasions, OBJ
served among US as a day of universal thanks
0e regret to have TO write.
Tomorrow, while portion Of this commu-
nifty are setting a good example by attending
divine rship-giving thanks in the different
churches Of Washin gton-a much larger por-
ton will be throwing away their time al d
means in various ways. An astonishing quar-
tity Of execrable liquor will be guzzled here
Perhaps ten times as much as on any ether
day in this year 1856. A multitude Of horses
will be Over-ridden and over driven; and
thousands who can'il afford to loose day 5
wages will be compelled by the fashion Of the
hour to refrain for the day from earning six
pense. While we realize how easily those who
will attend the churches tomorrow (and we
should be glad, indeed if every man, woman
and child in Washington would do sO) might
participate in the observance of the day in that
way, we are also very sure that to thousands
around Us it will be little more than an coca
sion for indulgence in dissipation at the cost
Of character, health and senderly provided
origin, or as having the sanction or impress of
time honored Christian precedent or authority.
While we are content to buy our cotton spools
and wooden ware from New England because
hers are the cheapest, we are by no means
content to receive her notions of religion,
morals, the duties of citizenship, &c., as be-
ing the best They have crazy society within
New highlands limits, where they have been
prod uctive of little but mischief-of unadul-
| terated and unmistakable injuries to sound
religion, morals and patriotism. Entertaining
such views of the fitness of substituting Thanks.
giving day for Christmas, nothing can be more
repugnant TO us than to find the Governors and
other local authorities south Of Mason's and
| Dixon's lire toadying New England in thil
| matter, and thus indirectly robbing those in
this section of the Union who live by days
wages out CT portion of their poor pittance,
AID encouraging thousands on thousands tC
spend a day in dissipation.
The Session The next session Of Congress
| is destined to be a very lively one, indeed
| outside of their halls "a well as within them
A great many measures Of vital importance
to individuals, which were initiated at the
last session, remain to be disposed Of; those
| interested in them having declined to press
them to final issues until after the election,
knowing we'll that their chances for favorable
| hearings On all sides would be much better
after the composition of the next House had
been determined for the most part, than be-
fore that event had taken place: Hundreds
will be here for the session TO attend to such