New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-27
rHANKsGIgIYG ~ SEWEyGL4yD.

THE HISTORIC THANKsGIvING Day BONFIREs or
NoRwIcH-YoUNG MERRY-MAKERs ~ BFGGARs
GARD.
(rR0M An CAsIoSAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE.
NORWICH Conn. Nov. 2j.-Thls little old pictur-
esque New-Eugan- town observes Thanksgiving
Day as no other place does III all the country. Nor
wich which now lacks but three years Of having
completed the first quarter OF her third century. is
bull among and upon group OF hills as bold, ii nor
az classic as Rone's and when. just after night
fall Of Thanksgiving Day, the stated diner srolIs TO
a window or porch. be discovers, rising from as
many OF these eminences a his view can command,
slender columns of flame against the dark
ness. and groups of children skyiarkDg
about ~ the rudy light. The shaft of fire lasts
but fifteen or wenty minutes. then rapidly sub
sides with the destruction Of the material which
If fed but IN a moment fresh one IL lit IN Us
stead and the succession lasts for two or three
hours. Sometimes tne scene is still further enlIv-
ened bv the use OF " ire balls" made of candle
wlcking soaked in turpentine, and having been IL
nited tossed about by the lads who conduct this
feature of the celebration, Just customary on
the eve of the Fourth of July in many other places
years ago.
But tie Thanksgiving bonfires of Norwich date
back to early Colonial days. aud have a peculiarly
of construction which probably has not been Imi-
taied elsewhere. Instead of pIng boxes crates and
barrels promscuousy one broad pyramidal heap
the boys select barrels only for this purpose and
impale them. one above another. on tall poles set
upright. in a group upon the cleared SUBMITS of
the hills. Anywhere from two to dozen Of these
stacks are erected. according TO the abundance OF
the barrel crop, which has suffered some
what This year from the depredations Incl
dent 10 "A proper celebration OF the late election.
Some clue AFT rded IN the History Of Norwich,
by Miss CaulNns, 10 the antiquity of this usage in
Norwich. In the cours- of several incidents lar
rated 10 illustrate the ImpetuOus and wilfu DISPOSE
non Of Bened ct Arnold while Yet child. ia this
the place his birth and early residence. this hlstO-
ran SAYS: Ii Is remembered also, that having AT
The head of gang OF boys, seized and rolled away
some vauabie casks from shop yard, to
and IN making the usual Thanksgiving bonfire,
the casks arrested on the way by an Of
fccr sent by the owner to recover them; upod
winch Young Arnold WIS enragcG that he stripped
of ms int spot. ana dared the constable, a
stout and grave man, 70 fight hIm.' As Arnold as
born in 174l, and, from the connection IN which
tie story told, 70 would appear that he was sui
child wnen this incident occurred, II fair TO nfer
that at least hundred aud twenty nye wears ago,
when Norwich was only a century Old, this practice
could be spoken OF as 90 the usual Thanksgiving
bonfire
Apropos Of local usagrs at this season, it might be
added that in northeastern Massachusetts,, lew
years ago, the custom widely obtained among cAil-
dren Of gong about from door tOdOOr. Thanksgiving
eve begging for something 10 eat. The youngsters
who udu ged IN these FRANKS were NOT needy and the
soliciting done III fun. Inc ioiilty was en-
HANGED BY ragged cos umes, faces made up" with
burnt cork and PANT, and other DISCUSSES. The
BOYS turued their overcOats INSIDE out ana the girls
searched the rag-bag for outandish trump
cry tor their wardrobes. These visits were
paId to the cuildren's friends very often, hut
the carnival license of The custom permitted them
to 90 to other peoples houses well. Indeed, III
the homes of the wel-to-do host OF such guests
were expected The night before the holiday. aud
they were always invited ID, except when the roy
steTers stumbled unawGres upon some gTddgng
TI,.h ..af and H.
SONS would bestow unlimited PIE and doughnuts
upon the buresque beggars and happy was the
youngster VINO was not fooled with an apple turn