The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1878-12-05
Thsnksgiving Day in Wichita.

lfTbursday was day set apart by the rnu-
tual consent of the powers that be, as Ma
tional and State holiday Of full legal effect. to
be observed by all good Iaw-ibiiIng citizens.
no one would have thought SO by the appear
ance OF Wichita's business streets. Some OF
the more conscientious slipped Off for the sake
OF the example, between twelve and one
O'CLOCK, and dropped into sanctuary IN time to
hear the benediction, while others held off till
evening, and then hireing q cheap boy TO
watch their stores few around to the door OF
the house Of prayer to ''hoiler amen" to the
the last effort No places of business save the
banks, U. s. Land Office and post office,
closed for a moment, and but for the law they
/ no doubt would have followed the wicked ex-
ample set them upon every hand. But for the
numberless turkeys swung by their hind
legs along the streets in the cranberry light o {
| the early morn the veriest heather woul
| never have suspected that the Great Giver
had ever done anything worthy the name
for this section. Our exchanges come fun OF
accounts OF the days observance by all the
other towns in the State, but wicked Wichita
with a make believe faith in tie eternal
charity OF the Governor OF the universe stub
bed along in this same old rut, each indiyidu-
al refusing to do otherwise for fear some ini ell
neighbor who believes in no god but the Al
mighty Dollar might get ahead OF him. II we
in our religious zeal have stated the case too
strongly we most humbIy beg pardon.
A respectable congregation. made up of the
several denominations, assembled at the ME-
church in the morning to hear the Rev. John
Kirby. His text was Sand all nations shall
call ye blessed, Tor We shall be delightsome
land, saith the Lord of hosts" Old Malachi
said it about Canaan, but Kirby said it about
the United States. focusing on the Arkansas
valley and Wichita. Laying aside his ecces-
iasticsl wings he besirode the old bird OF
freedom mot the turkey but the eagle) and
took soar that W ould have made the head OF
an ordinary Johnny Bull swim from sheer
fright. Talk about your Fourth of July
efforts by orators to the manor born. your
bureau statistics Of the fiscal year, of the priv
ileges, OF The freedom and of the happiness
born of prosperity, as portrayed in verse,
and song, and by the hand Of the painter,
but Kirby carried that audience to the very |
Pisgah of enthusiasm and honest pride for |
tnis g'ori"as country. Dfotner larsen, VINO |
sat behind HIM TO hold his hat and look up |
appropriate hymns, just smiled the broade.t |
kind, because he couldn't help il; while the |
rest OF Us cheered as loufi as we dared. If the
speaker hadn't been "A reverend. AMI in the
pulpit at that, we would have voted him Il
brick. Facetia TO lie shade we will be borne
out in the assertion that the address was
grand ore, enkiniiing love, pride and enthu-
siasm Tor this great American Repu5iic-a
speech which aroused The patriotism OF every
lover OF his country who heard it,
In the evening union praise aud thanks
giving meeting was held nj the Presbyterian
church. conducted by Rev. J. 7. Harscn. The
audience was very large. The time was occu-
pied until late hour in song. prayer, and
short TAILS OF from one 10 five minutes each,
and great good feeling prevailed.
An entertainment was given by the Episco-
pal society, at Russell Hail, which was Well
attended.
by adother year we hope our people will
Down on their knees and stop their fuss,
An thank he I.uyl lhipps al "a ,.-t,. |