The New York herald., 1873-11-26
THANKSGIVING EVE.
The National Holiday and How 1t
VIII Be Observed.
Provision for The Poor, Perishing People---What
Our City Charities Will Do TO-Morrow.

Tomorrow, Thursday November 81 is the day
set apart by the President OF the United states as
the holiday OF Thanksgiving. This festival is one
that has been, since its first inauguration strictly
Kept by those who feel gratitude for the many bless
ings vouchsafed them by a benifcent Providence
during well nigh IL months OF the waning year, and
has become one or "our most glorious institu-
tions," as MI. Jefferson Brick would say Certainly
1t is a day that should be venerated and kept holy
for all time. it being that upon which the praise OF
erring man is rendered to the Most High for His
most merciul forbearance and the care lie takes
OF even the most worthless OF mankind.
The first day OF public and universal thanks
giving OF which we have any record was cee-
brated at Plymouth, Mass, A. D. 1921, by order OF
Governor Bradford. In those days the country
was, metaphorcally speaking, in swaddling
clothes, and
THE PILGRIM FATHERS
found it rather difficult to provide for their
households than even the most impecunious citi-
zen does at the present time. Arduous toll failed
to make the virgin soil produce in plenty the nec-
essarics OF life; steam poughs, patent irrigators
and seed distributors were unknown; fertilizers
were TO be discovered by posterity, and the fair
face OF earth was not nearly SO iecund or produc-
tive as art and science have made 1t since the
country gained its independence There had been
granaries were empty; the immolating hand OF
the grim goblin Starvation was upon the people.
But He "who marks the sparrow's fall" turned an
attentive and sympathetic ear to the prayers OF
the a1icted In their dire need they lifted up their
voices and He gave them aid. The parched and
thirsty earth was refreshed with genial showers,
the wilsed trees resumed their bloom and plenty
came once more. The golden sun shone down upon
uplands teeming with ripening grain,
THE THATCHED BARNS ECHOED
the strokes OF the fail, and ere chill winter SHOWS
mantled the earth goodly crops were garnered and
misery evanesced. 1t was then that the Puritan
pioneers OF civilization In the Western World
determined TO show their gratitude by keeping
select and sacred one day out OF every year upon
which they could render tribute OF thanksgiving to
the great Creator. With the rapid march of i'm
provement and knowledge during the last two
centuries the customs observed upon this holiday
have materially changed, and, IN fact, 1t was not
until Mr.. Lincoln's term President that Thanks
giving was made o national holiday and all public
ofices closed IN celebration OF IL.
SINCE "HoNEsT OLD ABE"
made that enactment public interest In Thanks
giving has yearly increased, and the day is now
almost as joyousy anticipated as the celebration
OF "the glorious Fourth.n There is also a most
peculiar and astonishing unanimty OF ritual in the
inanucT vi Tue ccleDratlOn OF tnlS monday, Wnen
the diversity OF sects and creeds be taken into con-
sideration, As becomes feast day, and has ever
become one since the ancient Greeks and Romans
held high carnival In The celebration OF their utear
dcites, hearty cheer ana free indulgence In all
kinds OF harmless mrth are the chief features OF
Thanksgiving Day. The churches are thrown open
70. the pous and grateful to worship the Givcr OF
all good things, and, indeed, few services arc so
well attended by those seclfary inclined "a those
held upon this day OF general rejoicing But It is,
after all, the Thanksgiving dinner which is
the great feature OF the day. Mater JaU,iitds
has been IN stew and hurry for the past week
to cater for the party she expects TO entertain and
her anxieties never cease until midnight ushcrs In
another day and the last guest has departed or
gone up stairs to bed. To provide a substantial
feast for large circle is an onerous task as on
this day poor relations and new marriage conncc.
tions must perorcc be invited. and poor relations
especially II they are envious are apt to be dis.
satisfied and hypercrticaI.
THE TURKEY. WHICH LOOKED so PLUMP
and tender In It's plumage, turns out when pluckcd
10 be skinny, sinewy and bony as an antiauatea
spinster or a griIled ostrich. The capons. which
were thought to be uicy and fat prove old shangac