, 1872-11-28

Ihe President OF the United States has re-
quested the people Of this country to observe
this day as q general occasion for thanksgiving
and praise to Almighty God for the blessings
which have crowned the year, and the Governor
OF Illinois has indorsed this request by a sup
Elementary proclamation to the people Of this
State. As good and loyal citizen, it will be tho
duty of every man to obey these proclamations,
and bestir himself to find out topics for thank
fulness and turkeys for dinner. The clergy
to-day will undoubtedly find abundant causes
Tor gratitude, agreeing, as they do with Shak-
speare, that there is a special providence in the
fall Of sparrow. The 1aity, who cannot look
as far into a. milestone, will be sorely puzzled
to discover the REASONS for thanks-
giving, as they call to mind the condagrations,
earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, murders, bank
ruptcies, cyclones, shipwrecks, epizootics, cho1-
eras, small-poxes, explosions, high taxes, as
sessments, and railroad and steamboat disasters
which have occurred with cheerful regularity
since last November. Notwithstanding the dis
NAL catalogue OF horrors, which has gone on in
creasing since we were last called upon to be
thankful, we incline to the opinion that every
man can look these calanitieB square1y in the
face, and still have the audacity to be extremely
thankful. Our gratitude to-day, which We shall
express by attendance upon church and german
dizing upon roast turkey, chicken pie, and the
other culinary aids to praise, it seems to will
not be based go much upon frst-c1ass
blessings promptly received as upon
the fact that the calamities which
have been showerod down SO literally might
have been great deal worse than they are.
This optimistic view Of Thanksgiving will afford
grim sort of delight and consolation, and give
left-handed zest to the n1ince pie and walnuts.
Upon this basis, therefore, We congratulate our
readers upon the day ne celebrate.
Let us be thankful, first Of all, that VIC are
living andare enjoying fair degree OF health. As
Mr. Chadband observed, it is great privilege to
be d human child. Leaving cut OF consideration
the evils and cal11nities which are current, there
is much in the world worth living TOR yet, chief
among which is the fact that Rubinstein comes
next week, that the Widow Cicquot and Dry Mon
opo1e still abound, that there ia still blazing
fire on tho hearth, d good book OF two in the IL
brary, plenty OF warm-hearted and open-handed
friends to help you enjoy all the good things Of
earth, and that Pallida Mors has not yet knocked
at your doors. and beckoned you away to that
quiet abode where no one is thankful but the
worm.
Let us be thankful that, whereas = year ago
ne we're grooming under grievous visitation Of
fire. ne are to-day again On our feet and able to
walk without crutches; that our streets are once
more full Of busy life; that unsightly heaps OF
brick, and stone, and shattered walls have given
place to elegant warehouses and palatia1 places
OF business; that the great currents OF
trade and commerce are once more running in
their old channels; and that every man to-day,
who cannot afford turkey, can at least express
his thankfulness to tho Divine Being over
chicken pie. Things might have been q great
deal worse.
the stringent money-market we're deferred until
We had got over the effects OF our own confa-
grafton and that We we're thus left free to get
up on our feet again, with no danger Of re-
lapse. Things might have been worse.
Let Us be deyoutly thankful that Brother
Collier failed to convince the people Of Bos-
ton that they needed relief, and that the
funds We 70 brayely and enthusiastically
resolved to give to the Hub, to re-
place it's lost spoke, can now be
applied to the payment Of life insurance poll
oies South Park assessments, notes coming
due, mortgages and other blessings in disguise,
| which otherwise might have made US blessed
army Of paupera. Things might have been
| worse.
| Let us be thankful that the epizootic has como
and gone that the horses are upon the streets
once more, gayer and iriskier than ever +; that
our prominent citizens are no longer obliged to
draw freight through the streets, and that the
| fleet OK no longer inaperle the lives Of pedes-
| trians with his caracolings and prsueings. Let
us be especially thankful in this connection that
| men and women have not been laid up with the
Hipporhinor1hea, and that VIC are still spared to
welcome the cholera next spring. Things might
have been worse.
| Let us be thankful that the street-cars are
again running, and that those unfortunate beings
who live in the rural districts south Of Twenty
fifth street and west Of Ashland avenue, are no
longer obliged to foot it home after dark, the
sport Of the gentle west wind and the prey Of
the genial garrotor. Things might have been
| worse.
| Let US be thankful that the clergy and hr.
| Greapebaum have at last succeeded in enforcing
the Sunday Inv, and that, next Sabbath, only
| 1000 saloons will be open. It might have been
q great deal worse.
| And while We are thankful for these great
blessings, which might have been calamtties,
there are numerous minor blessings which are
calculated to lead our thoughts into thankful
ness. Let us be thankful that Victoria Wood
hull is in jail; that the New York brokers
are scalping each other instead Of the public
that the season Of quail and venison has come
that J. Y. scammon, OF Milwaukee, only got