The New York herald., 1875-11-26
THANKSGIVING.
How the Holiday Was Observed and
Celebrated.
THE RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Feasting and Delight at the Chari-
table Institutions
THE VETERANS OF 1912.
Family Reunions Round
Festive Boards.
THE VETERANS OF 1912.
NJ. Beerher Against the Reading Of the Bible
in Common Schools.

One thing more the list or things TO be thankful
for yesterday was brightly beautiful day-one or
those golden autumnal days, clear sunshiry the very
air electric with vtalizng vgor-that lnger long in
the memory pleasant souvenir OF the fast fading
year The weather, whose htful vagares have 50 much
TO do with human veal and woe, should, in fact,
enter the formula OF Thanksgiving utterances and
in the Thanksgiving and prayer grace, be-
fore after the Thanksgiving dinner as the may
be, with thanks for abundant crops and freedom
from epdemics and war, there should be
expression Of gratitude for pleasant weather and
particularly if the day proved yesterday did an IN
exceptionally fine Radiant smiles with the
sunshine, and under its chcery influence there were
welcomes, and hearts gwen TO gloom through
the pain Of pressing poverty forgot their at
sight Of the broad blue sky they in Its coudless
sxpanse the joyous emblem Of a bright future for
themselves.
Notwithstanding the Shakespearian aphorism about
The tediousness OF holidays great capacity for their
enjoyment 10 certainly general Characteristic Of
American people. Our city, however, is the place in
which special development Of this talent is pre-emi-
nently shown Holidays be gotten up here
slight notice and on the slightest pretexts Thanks
giving Day, however, is OF the old solid holidays
heirloom of graver substance than the metaphorcl
cradle Of liberty. The pious part of the programme
the praying and the preaching, Is evidently though
gradually, lessening its hold the popular heart
general shutting up Of the shops and stores the almost
universal suspension Of business OF every kind the
days freedom from the readmin OF toll and the
ing turkeys for dinner the main features
that commend themselves to the great metropolitan
bosom and heart In other words Thanksgiving Day
observed here has become great general holi-
day day Of vacation and consequent jodcation and
particularly as being exempted from the restraints
Sunday clerks mechanics laborers school children
and almost everybody. in fact Furthermore it
being the opening holiday of the fall and winter season
1t to be enjoyed with freshly keen relish. And
with such zest the day observed and enjoyed yes
terday throughout the city and populous envrons
As viii be seen by the reports below there was good
attendance at the churches where the customary
hgious services were held and discourses opposite
90 the occasion preached. Al all the charitable in
stitutons, both public and private, there
likewise appropriate observances Of the day. ITS
observance, however, as usual found its cheerful
climax In the good dinners dispensed 10 the inmates
But after all the church services and outdoor
tons IN Central Park and elsewhere and attendance
places Of musement, which unusually large were
bny pleasant preudes pendants to the home dinners
and the family reunions at the festive board
OF Paradise that has suryiv'd tie fall
And here let the curtain drop. Happy that
pome loved since tho family gathering year ago.
nome one
To that unknown and siisn, shore
The usual big difference in dinners of course. de-
Teloped itself While in the dwellings Of the higher
Qass there was the turkey
roast and q ragout
And hsh and sonp by side dishes backed
more humble repasts covered the tables OF the
humber classes. In the abodes OF the latter how
over, there were less hearty welcomes and no
less heartfelt gratitude To some, unhappy, the day
was other days-a day OF perpetualy pinching and
pitiless poverty. But all in all the day was a mem
briabe one, as it always Is, and OF unusual
thanksgiving for Nfe's blessings be the
Or less
In the general joyous observance or the non-na-
nona holiday or Thanksgiving the local celebration
nf the anniversary Evacuation Day almost lost
sight OF by the great public Of the metropolis Its
memory quietly marked by the war-scarred and
hme-woTn veterans Of 1872 and few other military
organizations well by Of the older class
Of citizens who delight TO call themselves thorough
Knickerbockers 1t might be noted in flying flags
few blazing rockets but the universal celebra-
zion in our that Of Thanksgiving Day with
as good cheer and its happy family reunions