The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1880-11-24
For Tue RECORD.
TIE OLD SQUARE .ALMANAo

Has been missing for the last four months.
Whether its owner was busy in harvest fields,
or taken up with election affairs, or off on
European trip, is not declared.
At all events, he is home again, in season
for the cold snap, and thanksgiving dinner
and the visit of Mr.. Esoofly Hiptata, if that
august merchant prince, with his four wives
and lndiah retinue, shall decide TO take Lam
bertville in the line of his American travels.
both are at the service of the courteous editor
Of THE RECORD and its intelligent readers,
if they shall be pleased to hear any further
from - X" This Bombay stranger, Hptata,
is not the first oriental visitant, whose move
ments have created public sensation We
remember a fiery Turk, who honored Phila-
delphia in days long gone by, when it had not
a BALI of les present population or wealth.
The magnificent Mohamedan presented him.
self at the door of many well-to.do gentle.
man, in all the splendor Of tufban and beard
scimetar and sash, glttering c.escents of gold
and flashing diamonds, fragrant with altar
Of rose and opium yet, after all, but mag.
niliceut tramp. With gracious bow and fair
soft jeweled hand outsiretched, he made it
known that he could condesoeud to receive
gift from the grateful citizen, whose door he
had been SO kind as to darker. But a silver
coin, of whatever value, would be Indignantly
rejected, aud the sublime subject of the SUI
blime Porte exelaim in Indignant tones 81
take nothing but gold . His poor master,
on his lettering throne, is learning, to day,
that one cannot always gel all one asks for.
Then there was Mar Yohanan, a HISTORIAN
Bshup, of grave aspect aud dignified man
ners, the representative of church that has,
for fourteen centuries, maintained its entire
system of doctrine and services unchanged in
every iota. His VISIT, though unofficial, had
interest and value, as being one of the first
reachings after restoration Of intercourse be-
tween long alenated branches of the Christian
Church and sipce that day we have wit
messed many anotherintelchange Of courtesies,
and many earnest conferences in spirit of
goodwill and growing mutual respect and
confidence the end of all which, in its APP
pointed time, will be the fulhlment of the
Saviour's prayer, that they all may be one
III Us"
And now comes along, dissimiar from both.
this Hindoo lord OF trade, with bis inconye-
pient family, meaning 'to do 2 the Western
Continent, only to improve his mind by trav-
ell he tells us; but look we'll IL be leaves the
country until he has made Some good market
for his own commodities, or found. "a first rate
r. r. investment for his spare rupees.
The most interesting thing about it, is, that
Oriental life is showing itself so ready to take
upon itself Western forms; that women are
foreigners are so largely adopted and
movement has begun, even, for the entrance
of native young ladies' into society, as the
social equals and companions Of young men.
But all this is quite outside of the pages of
the almanac. And of The first date which We
notice, that antique annual does not know
very much, and we must add somewhat to all
1t can tell us.
November %, this year, is Thanksgiving
Day, a movable feast, of uncertain date, and
SO not entered in the columns of the Almanac
1t is, however, 10 its present form, of Ameri-
can origin, and as is claimed, yankee inven-
ton.
New England historians love to tell how
once, 10 the early days of colonization, fail
ure Of crops aud delay in the arrival of ex-
pected supplies had brought the little settle-
ment to the verge of starvation. A day of
initiation and prayer was appointed when,
on the way to meeting, the pious people es-
pied the long overdue vessel in the ofing,
and the fast was turned into feast the day
was made one Of thanksgiving, and thus it
Is alleged, originated the annual New Eng
land Thanksgiving.
But this is not the whole Of the story. As
Church Of England people came into the colo
MES, they brought the Christmas Of their
church and home, with its religious rites and
social festivities These were hateful to the
Puritan governors and councils. But they
found it was not enough to punish the OBJ
servance of Christmas with fine and imprison.
ment the festival and its festivities were
still loved, and by way Of Offset, the Assembly
and Governor Of each state enacted the keep