The New York herald., 1874-11-26
How the Day Will Be Oele-
brated IN the City.
TURKEY AND MINCE PIE
The Way the Festival Will Be Enjoyed in
the Public and Private Charitable
Institutions, at the Churches
and the Fairs.
THE FAMILY GATHERINGS.

II the turkey gooblers that regulate the domes-
Ee economy OF every turkey household IN the
lana even where the female sunragists claim
esual rights on the highest roosts had much TO
ray about what presidents and governors should
and should not do the American people would
certainly never hear OF proclamation for a ma
tlonal Thanksgiving; but II SO happens that as
yet universal suit rage has not been made 10 apply
70 all the animal creation, and to-day. therefore,
the big politicians can enjoy their Thanksgiving
aianer without fear OF being defeated at the next
eee tion by the solid turkey vote OF the rural dis
trcts. In fact, to-day will be DAY OF much feast.
lng ana probably OF some praying throughout the
length and breadth OF the Union; for it is undeni
able that OF late years Thanksgiving Day has come
10 be looked upon by the people generally as
- HOLIDAY OF MERRYAAKISG
rather than molly day set apart ior the exclusive
benefit OF long winded preachers who while de-
livering their sermons are all the time wond dering
within themselves whether the turkey is beng
overcome at home. and who once upon time con-
sdered the day and all It's appurtenaDces as sort
Of SPECIAL property OF their own.
In the long ago New England alone celebrated a
speeined day in the year as day OF general
thanksgiving the people OF the other States not
: considering 1t worth their while 10 60 TO church
for any Particular purpose more than once week,
but during the past few wears Thanksgiving Day
has become, next TO New Years Day. the greatest
and the most generally observed holiday OF the
whole year. Its religious character in the days
OF the Puritans made 1t as sacred in the eyes
Of the Cod fearing followers OF Bradford and
his successors as Christmas Day has always been
with the Catholics, and, indeed, If the statements
Of some chronicIers OF the truth and nothing but
the truth can he relied upon one OF the chief mo-
lves II not the principal motive, which led to the
establishment OF the day as a religious holiday by
the Purltans was TO 'deter the unwary from fall
ing into the ,supersutious practices OF the
Papists,n one OF which was the observance OF the
25tb OF december as the day when the saviour was
born into the world. Be that as it may, Thanks
giving Day has history peculiarly its own, and
II may surprise
THE STRAIGHT LACED NEW ENeLAYDERs
who may regard the merrymakings now deemed
inseperable from proper celebration OF the day
as so many objectionable crimes, and who may
cling TO the notion that II should be
. day OF extra religious practices alone 10
learn that the very FIRST Thanksgiving Day In
New England, OF which there Is record, was cele-
brated with all sorts OF merrymakngs-that in
TACT II took the celebrators three days to get
through with their publications.. This thanks
giving took place, oil course, in Massachusetts,
when Bradford was the Governor. IL was in 1921.
He aud his had suffered much, and had
worked hard in the fields and had prayed as hare
as they had worked, and as result they were
blessed with a good harvest. SO one day foul
men. by order OF the Governor, were sent out on
q shooting expedition, 80 that after q special
nannern they "night rejoice together' alter they
mad gathered OF their labors.n In those days
there must have been sDlendid shooting,
for the tour sporsmen succeeded IN DaQglng
enough game TO last BradIord's company almost
week.
Its tue that 1t is recorded as historical fact
that there was "a little help aside,n besides the
game secured by the huntsmen, but as 10 whether
TINS consisted or Ddtes de joe 0ras venison s.eaks
or quail on toast the veracious historian preserves
most omInous silence, and this silence Is all the
more TO be deplored in view OF the circumstance
whIch ne relates that while The Governor and his
by King Massasoit and ninety oil his men, whom
they entertained for three mortal days. The inev-
liable conclusion 10 that either the Jour men
must have been Irish rnemen Of some ancient
Rugby school or the Indians had
VERY POOR APpETITEs.
bilious historian OF the present day has cruelty
suggested that ''the little nelp aside'' was a big
demDohn OF whiskey, but every one who knows
anything knows that MassasOit was q Good Temp
lar In his way and a member IN good standing OF
the church, and that Bradford had no stomach for
little iestlyify OF the Bradford company their
THANKSGIVING occurred. IL unlike tine first
U many respects ior there us, Is no mention made
religious services having been held by the COM
paiy, whereas on the second occasion there was
the start The Governor issued proclamation that
the people should humble themselves before the
LORD ''Dy tasting and prayer" THIS, by the way,
was considered necessary, the crops had been
Door and a drought mad prevailed. The fasting
and praying had good effect, 1t is saiu, and when
the showers OF rain came, az an answer rom on
high, the Governor appointed the day following
the general wettng az day OF Thanksgiving,
when they returned
GLORY, HONOR AND PRAISE
with all thauKfuneSs 20 God, VINO bad dealt so
qracionsly with them" and ieasted splendidly
afterward.
II win thus be seen that the Idea OF some people
now-adays, that Thanksgiving Dav, II observed
strictly 10 accordance with the old time customs,
Ought to he day oI lasting and prayer 10 the ex-
clusion o. ieasting is au erroneous one land that
the orglDators OF the Thanksgiving Day practice
took good care that there snpuld be merrymaking
and general Publication, even Il they mad TO set
atan end. From Bradiord's time down the idea
Of one day in the year being designated az a day
New Enand sad sraaa ,o'f1ed year 'e 81
~ J became the custom OF the governors
ca oe me eeose Or % ses engan
10 meet ia theff churches on a certain nxed day
snd return thanks TO God lor HIS blessings during
the year. IL often happened. however that the
day wa1 not tie same IN the various states, and,
indeed, some States never knew what II was TO
have Thanksgiving Day at a1. But the war or
the rebellion, when brought about 80 many
changes, brought about change IN this par
teuIar. and since the year when President Lincoln
issued his proclamation fixing a day which the
people or ''an the statesu we've requested TO
observe az q day oi thank seiving, the Governors,
gard lt az national holiday instead OF local
one, and only issue their procamattons after the
President has issued his fixing upon the day 10 be
Observed
Az has already been said, Thanksgiving Day is
now, win but one probable exception the best
observed holiday n the Union This Is certainly
not because OF It's religious character, ior apart
from lAe morning services held In the churches,
matter Ol l0rm more than anything else, 1t can
net be eonsldeFed religious day; but the secret
oI w UNIVERSAL observance lies in the fact that
year puSceeus year " becomes more aud more
sacred 10 the eyes o! the people as
FAMILY FESTIVAL.
" uat had been but the practice ON Thanksgiving
Dy ~ aieW iamnles whose members were scat.
W. @ uuinb tne greater part Of the year, has be-
come tne practce OF every family IN the land-a
hay ol IeuulOni when the grandfather and grand
Inotgel Auu lhelr children and their children's
chhdTen rect under the same roof and SIT st
Ihc same tsple, ana gather about the same
hresdc ana th3nk God that lie mas allowed them
alter tue dreaTy separation OF a LanQ year To gaza
upon one an0ther'5 faces once again ana to ana
tnat tne lose Wnich boand them ali SO closely to-