New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-11-29
OBSERVANCE OF TIE DAY:

There is a tradition that when our national escut
oheon was being devised aud before the bald eagle had
the emblem manifest destiny plain old Ben Franklin
proposed the turkey the appropriate center of coao
arms insisting that bird the iuest North American
representative But poor Richard old man then and
the ferccr youth Revolution their blood hot with
demanded the eagea bird bold in soaring and fun Of fight
Thus the quiet gobbcr escaped udcTOus Immortality our
Amoa field and became the annual sacrifice Of the nation
the of the VOuder bird that figures the escutcheOn
But Franklns notion constantly recurring and 1t has
pass that for least day in each year the turkey
pretty ectuay suppan the proud bird Of freedom" From
Plymouth Rock and the Puritan squrs Of Boston the day of
thanks has gone forth until is centrally accepted by the ma
ion and to-day viii be kept holiday by all this regeneroed
Republic This is only dstncyey national religious hof
day and II is steadily growing In the popular regard Itshoud
and supeIsedc Christmas the Day Of Days but
American outgowth is destined TO take its
place beside that venerable and goody holiday which the
Emperor COmmOdus instituted and which has witnessed the
yu log the wass and the Baechanaan carols and those
doate poptate the favor Of Odn, Npen and the
whimsical Scandinavian detes II during the great war
Of regeneration which passed. and through the recO
on Of the meued Lincoln Freedoms First President after
conflict with Slavery began that Thanksgiving received
the which has borne to the first rank Of holidays
In 1858 it received doubtful and exceptional recognition in
the loyal army but in 1864 swept through camp and field and
hospital and took hold Of an hearts with holy patriotism
Active operations where practicable suspended prayers
said and songs sung by the patient army the Potomac
and by the heroic bands struggling in the businesses Of
Tennessee And noby this resolve to remember and he
grateful seconded by the loving North in Grant army alone
during that day OF that tal year cir hundred ts u turkeys
received and eaten by unused 10 Injuries but who
doubtless partial TO the bird as Franklin
day should and win he dedicated TO sefshnes il
day be thankful in and the way be truly grateful to
God for His mecies is give 70 His poor that they too may
without deceit join in the chorus Of thanksgiving The way
10 bless God to-day bring smile respondent face
and song praise weary and skepea heart TO feed
hungry the naked be the strength Of the widow and
friend Of the aheesn short 70 make needy person
feel very truth that the world made for him. and that in
high and noble sense al that God has made Is Good Amer
viii pray Krss Kinde today offer sacrifices
10 Sol other mythical pesonages but the cordially with
which they viii interchange visits the heartiness with which
they will eat and give thanks aud the generosity with which
they viii remember the poor that they may give thanks
are better than any legacies Of paganism.
As hint to those who would to-day enrich themselves by
giving the poor present below brief Of the worthy
charities Of the City with the Of the method in
which portion Of them propose celebrate this festival day
We have suggestion TO make regarding these occasions
Let the speeches the coune the prayers he short and TO the
point There many excellent gentlemen who viii have
abundant material for halhours speech but the interest Of
the children who have been led to look this day holiday
beg OF these worthy persons keep their lengthy homes
for appropriate occasion than the Introduction
Thanksgiving dinner