The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-11-17


flSty1nsi IsS ana O tSs InaspsnqssSoS Of ne
fourth. l. 5. GRANT.
BY the PRESIDENT
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary OF State.
Governor Gearys proclamation, save the addition
OF few words, recites substantially the same thing.
It's Observnp ce In Olden Times
was in no especial particular different from that
which now prevails, though in the manner and de-
gree OF the observance It was very dssmilar. In
the early days Of New England history 1t was un-
doubtedly more austere than at present. 1t was
cessariy tlnctured by all the severity which then
marked the Puritan character and training In the
Puritan creed idleness was set down as 'the worst
form of original sin," and frivolity did not hold
much higher rank. Hence Thanksgiving Day was
about the busiest and the soberest Of all the year;
and its main feature in the days OF the Mathers
sisted OF doctrnal sermon OF from two TO four
hours duration But this was compensated for, in
some measure, by the royal feast to which all the
members of the family circle sat down upon its
clusion. As Bancroft has aptly said:-
IA lovely picture OF prosperity pety and domestic
happiness was presented. Every family was taught
to look up to God to the fountain of all goods yet
life was not sombre The spirit OF frOc mingled
with innocence; religion itself sometimes wore the
garb of gayety, and the annual thanksgiving to
God was, from primitive times, as joyous as it was
sincere"
The Puritan character, as resulting from the
peculiar training to which child was invariably
subjected, has been vivldly portrayed by the late
DR.. Brainerd in his "Life of John Brainerd, the
Missionary"
'Its activity was bliss, its growth was spring Of
life; its achievements were victories Each day
garnered some benefits; and rising life, marked
by successive accumulations, left a smile on the
conscience and bright and reasonable hopes for the
future
had left childhood little larger indugence-had
looked with interest at present enjoyment well
at future good-had smiled little more lovingly
the innocent gambos, the ringing laughter, the ire
press1ble mirth OF boyh0Od and had frowned less
severely on lmperiections clingng to human nature
itself. We might think that, by insisting too much
on obligation, and too little on prvege-too much
on the law, and too little on the gospel-too much on
the severity and too little the goodness of the
Deity, the conscience may have been stimulated at
the expense of the affections, and men fitted for
another world at an unnecessary sacrifice of their
amiablity and happiness in the present life. But in
Leaving this Puritan training, the world has gone
further and Jared worse +"
From this description let us draw the picture of
how the day passed formerly, and how now. We
take New England as the distinctive type, because
in the older time Thanksgiving was the only great
religious and social festival in its calendar and
therefore a more correct subject for comparison.
The city is also the type of the present. the country
of the past We need not go very far back to find
difference, though the country folk have not degene
rated to such an extent as those Of the city.
The Former Picture.
| For weeks before preparations carried on to
the greatest extent. The housewife has her hands
completely full Mnce pies are to be made apple PIES
| kinds. Members of the family called to place
violent hands upon the turkeys, which Tor months
before have been fattening in anticipation of the
| event. The cries OF the luckless birds are dsre-
garded The hearts OF the prosecutors are hardened
| by the thoughts OF the good things to come. The
| cold steel enters-the deed is done!
Then comes the picking by other members. The
feathers y and the bosom is laid bare, which BEFORE
was covered with the downy coat. The pride of the
| farm-yard has fallen He is doomed, If not to a
fiery death at q stake, at least to slow but most
certain roasting. The cider-kegs are tapped and
ready. The apple-bins are fail and running over.
The logs split the hearth swept, and all things
are ready.
| The eve brings the strangers from afar. A brother
comes from abroad; another from the far West.
One comes from his merchandise; another from his
| profession. The sister comes with her family of lit
tie ones Old Uncle Bill, as the youngsters call him,
that fussy old bachelor, always welcome, comes and
takes his place among the rest All gather about the
fire, by which sit grandfather and grandmother, and
all are right royalty welcomed by Uncle Fred, and
Uncle Freds wife, Aunt Fred, who inhabit the old
homestead. The old house expands and stretches
out its arms to hold them all How they all squeeze
| in! There is always room.
| Bright and early on the morning of the Sabbath
like day the household is astr The hustle of the
breakfast is its noticeable feature 1t is caused by
the questions the greetings, the general animated
conversation of the newly-met friends.
Breakfast over preparations for the great event OF
the day-the dinner-are Immediately begun.
Aunt Fred stays at home all the morning to see
that all things go well. The rest pair Off and take
their way to the Westinghouse.
| What sight is there! The place is full. Aunt
Lucy goes up the aisle with Uncle Obadiah, Uncle
Samuel takes the pretty Aunt Fan, and leads by the
hand Cousin Jerry, little mischievous, cury-headet
boy, Aunt Fans youngest. Cousin Jerry looks sober
but the spirit is in him. for he follows in the traiI
he accidentally knocks against Cousin Kate aged
mi nnh fn thn fndi tinn Of hat
lady, and is rewarded with killing smile for hi
pains. The procession being seated, we wait il
awful expectation. AT length rap is heard L
comes from the organ-loft. note from pitch
pipe, chord sounded from the singers, and thu
choir is underway. How they roll and tremble, as II
were, In their efforts to bring harmony out OF dis
cord! What gaping silence when they are done!
And now the pastor rises. He is good man, anC
devout man, though peculiar. With his well-re
membered nasal tone he asks blessing on tn
Again he prays. again the pitch-ppe, again tn
, strivings OF the choir as they work through witt
! 'Coronation," Geneva" "AntiOch," or the like
helped ON by the efforts OF the congregation.
, When the sermon comes, what settling into eas,
, corners there is! What steadyngs OF heads OIL
hands what feelings for foot-cushions and arrang
! ings of hats and umbrellas o. We youngsters, hoy
can ye stand it! o bamy sleep, why will ye no
come and close my eyes, or If perchance balm
sleep does happen TO come, why, ye umbrellas, an
hymn-books, and elbows, do ye poke SO unmeI
! cifully in the side and drive him away!
A How comforting the thought that all things earthl
. must have an end! When the "lasty" is announced
see the people spring into new life. See them rails
themselves, rub their eyes, wipe their glasses, O
, draw their breath. One might think that they wer
- all nightly relieved