The New York herald., 1878-11-27
THANKSGIVING.
Origin and Associations of the Great
National Holiday.
FEAST OF THE PURITANS
Preparations for It's Worthy Gel
ebration in this City.

The grand holiday season of the year will be inau-
euraed by the day OF feasting and thanks
giving Unlike most holidays this IS not an annlver-
sary Of event OF great national or universal
Significance but rather time set apart for the
preston OF gratitude for all blessings which have
come upon us throughout the entire year. Optimism
should and perhaps for little while does reign su-
preme. No one, matter what msfortunes may
have befalen him. review the experience of 365
days without finding something that shall cause his
heart TO warm with gratitude and his lips to ''show
forth praise
COLONIAL DAYS.
II was never intended that the day of praise and
thanksgiving should degenerate into occasion OF
mere sensual feasting Accounts differ but slightly
as to the origin our national Thanksgiving Day,
which doubtless suggested by the Hebrew feast
of ingathering at the end Of the year. The most
notable instance of special observance of the KIND
in modern times was the day Of thanksgiving ceie-
brated in Leyten on the first anniversary of the
city's deliyerance from siege. This was on the sd
of October, 1875. 1t was forty-six years later
in the fall of 163l-that Governor Bradford, after
the first harvest of the Plymouth colony, sent four
men out il search of game. that special reiocings
might be had together Almost two years after that
in July 1923. day of prayer and fasting account
of drought was changed into one OF rejoicing By
heavy rail- or rain An arrival OF suppues from Ing
land at the Charlestown settlement equally well
timed Days of thanksgiving were. it seems, OFF,
cally appointed in the Massachusetts, Bay colony for
several years prior 1859. In the Plymouth colony
similar appointments are supposed to have been
made annually during the last quarter of the seven
teenth century. New Netherlands Dutch rulers also
apart regular days OF thanksgiving between the
years 164 and 1865 and 100 years thereafter the Eng
lsh Governors Of New York followed their example.
UNITED STATES.
throughout the Revolution the observance Of
Thanksgiving annually recommended by Con-
gress; but after peace had been confirmed it
deemed longer necessary, till in the year 1889
he adoption of the constitution made subject
Of national thanksgiving by appointment of Pres
dent Washington. The suppression of insurrection
In l795 and the restoratian OF peace in 1915
joiced in like manner In 1889 the PRAYER Book
of the Protestant Episcopal Church recommended the
first Thursday in November day of national
thanksgia>g. in other day appointed
by the civil authorities. Other denominations
have made similar provisions for annual observ-
ance Sixty-one years ago the Governor Of New York
began the appointment of regular day and the
other Northern States were not slow in taking SINH
lar action. The Southern States. however Jagged be-
hind and it not till after the late that Thanks
giving Day might be said to have become national
Institution. Now the Presidential recommendation
is made in due season the Governors of all the States
and Mayors of leading cities indorsing his action
with unfailing regularity. Custom has ut last finally
apart the las. Thursday in November the day
be observed.
SEw ENGIANp's FAyoRrrE
But though the observance of Thanksgiving Day is
no longer confined to one section OF the country il is
In New England it, early nome. that the anniversary
is most heartily celebrated. Ever Christmas the
day Of DAYS in ali other parts OF Christendom.
hardly be said to appeal more strongly 10 the sympa
thics of the Yankee heart Not only does the family
reassemble at the festive board and hresidc. but
brotherhoods and great societies make this
sion Of reunion and kindly intercourse The New
Englander unable TO return to his native State seeks
out his fellow Statesmen and devoes the day to roast
turkey and historical retrospect. with occasional
glances at the magnificent future of his darling Yam
keedorn.
THE DAY N THIS CITY.
The following proclamation was yesterday issued
by Mayor Ely
ESHcuT'vs SIn Drs,assrSa yaas yav csFr .r ~ M.
ea LAM. ", ws # and md
Governor Of the State of New York requesting people
thanksgiving God for the and
blessings which He has bestowed duriog the
u sisne.. whereof have he,eas'o set hand and
be hereto affixed this 2eth day Of Sosemser ls7s
SPORTS.
Lovers of outdoor sports will have interesting
programme to select from. The following list gives
At nine A. NJ. the newly organized westehester
Hare and Hounds will have their first run. The
start will be from Schroeder's Hotel Central avenue
Woodlawn, and the hares-two in number-win be
sent away fifteen minutes in advance of the hounds
At ten A. NJ the games OF the Manhattan Athletic
Club. Eighth avenue and Fifty-sixth street will be
called After the amateur athletes shall have rested
And taken their lunch they will repair to the grounds
Of the ScotishAmerican Athletic Club where another
interesting handicap programme will be found, en-
bracing more entries, perhaps than any similar num-
ber OF games have before called out
On the grounds of the st. Georges Cricket Club
foot Of Ninth street, Hoboken the football teams of
Yale and Princeton will play championship match
Both these teams have defeated Harvard this season.
and the question OF superiority among the colleges
1t this exciting sport is lett to the teams that will
together Tomorrow. Game will be called at half past
two J.. NJ.
The Argonauta Rowing Association. of Bergen
Point, y. j., viii give series Of athletic games
their new track near the boathouse The games Will
be called about ten A. NJ
At Myrtle Avenue Park. Brooklyn. L. L. f. W. John
son and James Daley professionals will compete iii
number Of games, the winner OF fve to be declared
the best and be entitled to the stakes that
The University and Westchester Lacrosse clubs viii
play match game on the Central Park baseball
grounds In the afternoon. The best three out of ve
goals will win.
Captain Bogardus viii shoot match for 1900 at the
Brooklyn Driving Park. tho conditions being that he
will kill 70 out OF 100 pigeons 90 single and 70 double
rises. The shooting viii commence at twelve W., and
after the match there will be sweepstakes, open to all
amateurs.
There will also be numerous pigeon shooting
weepstakes at Erb's Hotel. Bloomfield avenue. New
rk y. j. Five hundred pigeons on hand and the
irst sweep viii he called at ten A. VI.
The Elizabeth Gun Club, vigorous organization,
will meet at Brinton Range at twelve NJ, and have
pleasant reunion IN pigeon shooting II is open to
members only.
Billy Fields l'The Steel Man y will be given ben
sit in the afternoon at Hills Theatre. There viii be
m interesting programme and several boxers OF note
will assist the beneficiary.
CHIrDRENs SOCIETY.
grand dinner and entertainment will be given at
the Riyngton street branch of the Chilirens Aid So
cety, at halfpast seven p. NJ There will be tricks.
Punch and judy shows songs and dances by the boys
of the institution.
HUNTING.
The master OF the hounds OF the Montclair II unit
has announced the meet TO take place Tomorrow at
the kennel MIR. Sadliers Grove street at eleven
O'Clock. II being ladies' day. special arrangements
have been made for genuine fox hunt. The pack is
70 be increased by additional couples of hounds
Long Island. very largely attended meet is ex-
pected.
ATITRpIIy'S TENpERh hNCE NVnpE