The New York herald., 1871-11-30
The Origin and Celebration
of the Festival.
ADAY BRIGHT WITH HAPPY MEMORIES.
Grand RgOicingS Among the Poor, the
Unfortunate and The Criminal.
TO-DAY's PROGRAMME.
General Review of the Pleasures
and Duties Of the Occasion.

OF all our national HOLIDAYS the one that is ushered
In with the dawn OF this happy winter morning is,
perhaps endeared to every American by the most
pleasant ana delightful associations. With the
Fourth Of July and ashlng,on's birthday. 1t COM
pletes the list OF dlsLinctivey American holi-
days. But how different 1t Is both In origin and
character from the other two! The Fourth, glorious
rs are the memories 1t celebrates has only patri.
Otic significance, and the boister0us exuberance
ana enthusiasm with which It is Kept, though. OF
course very natural and highly proper, certainly
aetracs from its general popularity. At least TWO
thirds OF our people-all who have passed
their third lustre of lle-have an un-
conqucrahe objection to frecrackers and
bonnres, and very frequently throw q damper
upon the excitement Of the more youthful members
Of the household at the breakfast table by gloomy
predictions OF the possible mischief and loss and
ruin that may make this Fourth. like SO many other
past Fourths, and notably that one which was COM
mem0rated by the burning up Of the entire city of
Portland, sadly memorable The day Is too noisy,
too obstreperously gay to have any deep hold upon
our hearts, though should justy count infamous
treason to propose its abolition Then, again, Wash
ingtOn's Birthday Is too late Institution en-.
shrined in the affections OF the people. Only few
years ago 1t was still work day. and the only hon
-
generous and general exhibition Of bunting. But
Thanksgiving Nowhere can you md all American
70 whom tails solemn celebration OF nation's
gratitude TO Him who directs and orders all things
Tor the good OF dis children does not revive remIn.
iscences aud stir up emotions that ale lnwOven
with His very heart strings. For TWO hundred years
and more it mas been eiyhted with burden OF
universal hope for the future and thankfuness for
the past while Its celebration mas assumed shape
that makes it especially beloved. The reunion OF
dispersed families around the paternal board, the
reconciliation ol Old family foes, the voluntary
casting away-as though at the dictate OF sacred
pblieation-or every wratnul passion and unchrs-
uan hate that could mar the peaceful happiness OF
she day-all these things have dcservedy erected
thanksgiving into the most soemnly earnest, the
most deeply cherished, the most eagerly expected
ana the most tenderly remembered Of all our
national gala days.
The story Of its origin is known to all. 1t dates
hack to those sad but grand times when the Purl-
tan fathers, 1eeng from the persecution OF q State
Church, sought llDerly Of conscience OH the sterile
shores OF New England. We all remember what
awful days OF prlvatlon and suffering and death
aned up the first lew years OF their life III their new
found Land OF Promise. FIGHTING with grim earn
estness and an ever steaGast faith in God against
famine auu disease ut home In the mean little log
cablns with whlcn with lalniul labor they had
from without oy the dusky savages who nad
Already Degun tnat war OF lie anu deati which was
srs OF new state were at iass threatened with
absolute starvaion. The barns were empty;
had wlthered their scanty crops There was only
one hope lett 10 tnem-tne mercy Ot that kind
sdsa wnose s anu @ 70 m meiT a simple @ aln
lall TO note the stricken sparrow as IL fell to the
sa aaS asi these
Anictons ana pray er lOr forgiveness aud selIabase-
s en s %as ed e saeny aat
blur the verge OF the pitess sea that stood
between them anu Cnrlstendom and to the strain.
ins eyes Of the Pilgrims II grows at last into The
Saiis the long expected supply snlp. 1t is easy to
picture Joy tnat nov br shcncd every lace In the
infant COLONY, ana wth tie enott we can follow tile
grave pastor as ne led ,ne peope 70 the meeting
house ana returned thanks .or the great benefits
they nau received His hand" Aud with what bright
Iuoes was the received That in pace
Of day oI last ana Illumination tnerc snould be q
day OF eastlng ana thank .ivlny! Tnus came about
tue celebration vi the nrSt THANKS giving Day; and
II Is well taat 70 sad and solemn crisis IN our
national history should be forever commemorated.
No d0uD. single great Chicago granary Of me DAYS
We live IN would nave supplied the needs OF that
Ii,te settlement iOr u gene alton; and If all the
Pilgrims auu their iumllies nad perished for want
o. rood there would nave oeen scarcesy as serious
less as now occurs IN one oi those railroad acct
dents tnat give US three or iour ''sensations''
Year, anu certainty lar less than distinguishes q
reasonably laial nine disaster. But We must not
measure thugs mercy by number and
anord the luxury Of An occasional hecatomo OF two
or three nunored lives. Had the Pilgrim fathers
sne last censu, have been snruukr At least half
our congressman ase vi New england birth or
origin probably mora. Not oniy, therefore, would
Il U or tntee hundred rlrllanS nave vanished from
the earth, Dut 'tne germ ol iuure ie,n as though
nnder tie .iron tread" Of Tamerlanc or Napo-
AcUn, would have died ont also.
Untl the kevo.ut,on however, thanksgiving was
mainly local institution IN the New England
sass u n course & n 'ne n rs
his "lares' ami observed 1t with Puritan nelrtl-
ness bSt s ,S was .0ss no, very raod
oi our land by this tedious proccss After
Inc defeat Of the leilons Of King George,
however, the need OF special thanksgiving Day
was universally recognized, and by general consent
through tue Nortn, East and infant west-onio
was tnen far est anl scarcely a lrontlersman's
eountry--the old New England thanksgiving Day
was accepted. Since the War, however, this day
HAS also been adopted by the south.
IL s scar.ey necessary to recall TO the m nd OF the
reader the many blessings IN the nasL year for
whicL we ouant " De especially thankful Oh th,s
a, oa. ~ % avarv iornl OF rum and loss anu
deatn all over the world as all a"nns mtrd0u,S--a
year Of wonuerful disasters. PerSa anu Hungary
have i.ecn visited with terrible iamlnes. and wars
aud cart nIuaKes and snipwrecks have almost every
wnere made unprecedented havoc. We ourselves
have not utterly escajed, as the great fire OF
lhicaao, the loss OF our North Pacific whaling
neet and scores oil other terrible calamites sadly
remind us. tut we can certainly remember with
Innukiulness tnaL we nave not been cnastened be.
Ivn, our strength, unnroHen peace has sat within
svr poiIers aud we nave rarely mad a year that
pery. II nave been visiea with signal disasters
We have quickly recovered from tner effects ana
the loss OF life involved has been comparatively
Iphl. our people have not been led away by
madness such as that which has slain Frenchmen
b. scores ol thousands; Bor has wicked govern
Dient plundered them oi even the means oil bare
existence. Us has happened to the miserable Per-
sMns, We are still great and Tree nation,
aud We have perceptiby advanced In
wealth. IN population, Ia refinement ana
IN kno0ledgc. Anu Us we thus see clearer than
ever before the fast npenng glory OF our coming
crea ness let uS bow down In reverend gratitude TO
Im VINO casleth down aud raiseLh UP aud who Is
the Giver vi ali good things. -
Even as these lines arc being written thousands OF
hopeful holiday makers are Fastening behind the
iron horse 10 the homes Of their carly youth. This
bringing together OF kindred IS, after all, though
NOT the original purpose for wncn the day was In
stitutcd, certainly It's cneiest anu most affecting
charm. In 10 other country indeed rs Q dav Vi
family reunion necessary. Scattelcu ny lulilehse
distances, and still more by the cnterprslng,
wandering spirit that MARKS US as neo.
pie, we need q SPECIAL season IN whlcn
the duty OF visiting our kindred snould be pressed
npon our attention. Even where poverty or un-