The New York herald., 1877-11-30
TRULY THANKFUL.
The Blessings Of q Year Remsm-
bered for a Day.
A NATION BENDS THE KNEE.
bow New York Shared in the
Happy Oommemoration.
PEACE, PLENTY AND PLEASURE.
Generous DiscCurSeS from tne
Various Pulpits.
PARADES THROUGH STORMY STREETS.
Smiling Faces at Home and Famous Fare
in Public Institutions.
bow New York Shared in the
Happy Oommemoration.
PEACE, PLENTY AND PLEASURE.
Generous DiscCurSeS from the
Various Pulpits.
PARADES THROUGH STORMY STREETS
Smiling Faces at Home and Famous Fare
in Public Institutions.

in Public lnSlllutl0nS.
Wet and gray arose Thanksgiving morning and dis
apponte faces looked out upon the streaming side
wulks and muddy streets. Indoors glowing fires
cracked The hearth and he who thought the night
before he would spend tho day on the Streets at
places OF amusement, clubs and restaurants con-
cluded TO stay at home and make himself comfort
able. The majority of churchgoers were undaunted
and prepared themselves with an appetzing sermon
for the business OF the day-the dinnerl Downtown
places business closed insurance Offices and
tho Wholesale stores turned their iron shut
ters The silence of Wall street was un
broken save BY the rumbling OF the stages running
down to the ferries and the occasional pat
ierng of rubber shoes. The apple women and
patent toy men, who had hoped 10 reap rich
harvest, forced TO take day Of rest, and
tho flower girls bargained with young men IN ulsters
from within the shelter OF convenient doorways In
the early morning a few belated heads OF families
rushad wildly through the market and bought the
days dinner Around the ferries groups OF umbrellas,
with aunls, and undor hem. were seen
hurrying to and fro TO join expectapt family parties.
All our New England who could went home to
Connecticut Rhode Island or massachusetts to eat
their dinners, for in those States Thanksgiving Is
portant day than is Christmas Every place
OF amusement open yesterday, from the Broadway
theatres 10 the museums on the Bowery, and Cleo
palra and the wild OF Bornco alike
we're visited by large audiences, Notwithstanding tho
storm The theatres were open both afternoon and
evening, and the baby show open all day. Many
OF retail dealers Of uptown avenues and some on
Broadway kept their open Tor tho double pur
pose OF o0liging customers and turning honest
penny. will be by reference TO columns.
tho poor as we'll as the enjoyed extra dinner
yesterday, for the benevolent to the front and
shared tue good things with their less fortunate
brother Al public institutions in the city and
Backwell's Island the inmates will have to
member the day, and, Notwithstanding tho rain and
tne mud, Thanksgiving Day, 1877, a happy one in
countless homes.
OF THE TASTAsTIcALs.
The rain sadly interfered with all outdoor exhibi-
tions except the parade Of the fantastcas. These
extraordinary people invariably display an excess Of
spirits under adverse circumstances. Boreas may
howl with his most piercing blasts from the icy
caverns Of the North Pole, and the Ram King may
unbar MS heaviest flood gates, but II all to The
merry masked nntasticals In fact they rather wel-
come real ugly weather-hal rain or slush-as IL
heightens the absurdty OF their antics and appear
ancc. Their great stamping ground on thanksgiving
Day Third avenue. Along this thoroughfare the
residents look Tor the procession oil the jolly raga-
muns with feelings OF delighted expectancy and the
Children, boys and girls early from their beds and
dock the sidewalks TO catch the first glimpse OF the
street. solpe and moro horseback or In
riaees aud all dressed in the most ridiculous cos
tunes imaginable. How the little boys scream with
delight when they hear the Loot Of a fish horn and
when they behold coming into view, mounted on
starved and iimping pony an ola darky with an enor-
nous shirt collar, appng around his ears like PAIR
of wings, huge battered umbrella and coat turned
inside outi The women flock to The windows aud all
along the street hisrity prevails Then another
character dressed woman, riding side saddle and
smoking an enormous cigar, comes in sight, followed
by buresque policemen. staggering as n drunk and
bcaborng zach other with stuffed clubs OF immense
size PIethoric Dulchmen. roilicking lrishmen, SOL
d,ers sailors, old women and fashionable bellies
fill procession, and all the avenue Is looking
or and bubbling with delight
Tne parade began yesterday before noon, and
started from Tompkns square up Tonth street 10
Tbird avenue, amid the cheers, boots, yells, and all
kinds oil peculiar vocal demonstrations on The part OF
thousand small boys. There were ten hsh horns In
the front rank moupted on lhird avenue street car
railroad horses. Tho drum MAJOR was besride
iamisbed looking mule, aud carried bsrbors pole for
his baton He wore pasteboard helmet, shaped Ike
coalscutle. and his dress was alternately red and
Tolow. His mask was enormous, and niied the minds
sf the small boys with awe and admiration
..Jee, amt ne bully looKin'Y" shouted one dimnu.
'.wouidn't be good 'un at the Boweryf" oucried
third. 'You bet," approvngly responded iourth,
and on Tho 1shhorns were followed by several
mouth organs on a large scale ana an Instrument
made out OF oyster cans that tangled
dreadful manner and filed the ar with
most unhoy discord Tho drums consisted OF three
milk cans, and they were beaten with an energy
worthy oil a better cause The ensemble OF the band
was atroclous degree, and In proportion TO
its atrocity IL was nailed with shouts appreciation
by Young America on the sidewalk. Following the
band on loot and on horseback, without any regard
to order discipline came the motley mob
OF fantstcas. worse than lunaIc asylum let loose,
some dancing as they moved forward and splnshins
the mud their companions others nourishing
full blown Dladders attached TO string at the end OF
a short stick. These made great merrnent for the
small boys end tor everybody else looking on.
IN THE ToMHs
The savory OF roast turkey nllcd the coils OF
the Guy Prison and the unfortunate inmates almost
forgot their troubles in the generous dinner laid before
them. ''The nrst square meal I'VE had since ieil,
was the declaration OF well known bank burglar, as
he stretched himself his cot and began picking MS
teeth alter having three large slices Of tu Key,
the better part oil chicken and quantity OF potatoes
onions and the other accompani nimcnts. Tue aiP' 10
wnicn he referred meant not physical ac-
cident, but his arrest Others OF the prisoners
expressed similar sentiments All we're agreed
that the dinner well worthy oi tho En-
pre- CITY. s.rho only think luckng," explaincd
us pick the writer, wine. and
That suppose due to oversight on tho part Of
Warden Quinn. he must have forgotten 10 ordcri and
The speak closed his lott eye rmy to lend emphasst TO
his words Preparations Tor the unusual repasi began
early in the morning, and Tor hours the cook house
ndjo,n ing prison presented al busy scene There
peemed 10 be no END OF turkeys. Tue cooks worked
with will and volumes Of steam, fregLted with
mo scent OF edibes, nlled the house and yard. At
sipe O'CLOCK the prisoners took their usual walk Tor
,xercise in the corridors only subject dis
susscd--the coming dinner. A. haif-past ten Rev. Mr.
Belka assembled 70 the second tier ana delivered an I'M
Iress,vo sermon appropriate to the day and audience
Several next sung, many OF the prisoners
Joining ierventy in tho harmony Al twelve O'Clock
fbs rafting OF pans ami the scurrying oi iect gave
notice that last tho dinner was close
nj hand. The signs were truthfuL In a low minutes
the relays of distributors had begun their work 10
.ncG prisoner was handed large dishiul OF turkey,
cuck ca and corned pork with onions, potatoes ana
bread No limit placed on appetite; every pris-
oucr wns told that hc could have all ne wanted The
meat was we'll cooked and tender tho vegetables were
such al q Broadway restaurant might ieci proud Of
tbe bread was lignt aud wholesome In the women
urison at tho farther end or the yard similar
Scenes were enacted The unfortunate iomaes were
smply cared Tor by Matron Foster The rules regard
p Az .be women were reaxed so far as allow many
nj tncm 10 SO down to table together The boys
sr,son and the tendny house received their share o
.'.n,iou The most appeared TO DO the boys
Thev scrambied tor turkey legs as u lilo Itself de-
pended on getting an armIu and they continued 'te
Feast until tired nature coud no longer submit a 70
~ xnom s27 were males aud 1873 females. fhc cntre
sryaneements wsro under the immediate supervision
=, ~ s., onnn who spared effort TO make Thanks
sv,ng bright dny In the memory Of tho unfortunate
ee~anIc com mistcd 70 his charge
k~F wARp,s AND BLACKwKLL's ISLANDS
ro..mssSaonsrs Cox, Brennan and Bailey were