Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1881-11-11
A Day of Thanksgiving.

WASHINGTON, November 1.-The fol-
lowing proclamation was issued from the
Department of State to-day:
By the President of the United States OF
Anaerica-A Proclamation.
It has long been the pious custom of our
people with the closing of the year to look
back UPON the blessings brought to them
in the changing course of the seasons, and
to return solemn thanks to the all-giying
source from whom they flow; and although
at this period, when the falling leaf ad-
monishes US that the time of our sacred
duty is at hand, our nation still lies In the
shadow of a great bereavement, and the
mourning which has filed our hearts still
finds it's sorrowful expression toward the
God before whom we but lately bowed in
grief and supplication, yet the countless
benefits which have shoWered upon us du-
ring the past twelve months call for our
fervent gratitude, and make it fitting that
we should rejoice with thankfulness that
the Lord in His initiate mercy has most
signally favored our country aud our peo-
Pile. Peace without and prosperity within
have been vouchsafed to us; no pestilence
has visited our shores: the abundant priv
ileges of freedom which our fathers left
us in their wisdom are still our increasing
heritage, and if in parts of our vast do
main some affection has visited our Dreth-
rem, in their forest homes, yet even this
calamity has been tempered and in man
ner sanctifed by the generous compassion
for the sufferers which has been called
forth throughout our land. For all these
things it is meet that the voice of the ma
tion should go up to Goa in devOut hon.
age.
Wherefore [, Chester A. Arthur, PreSi-
dent of the United States, do recommend
that all the people observe Thursday, the
24th day of November instant, as a day of
national Thanksgiving and prayer, by ceas-
ing SO far as may from their secular labors
and meeting in their several places OF wor-
ship, there to join in ascribing honor and
praise to Almighty God, whose goodness
has been so manifest in our history and in
our lives, and offering earnest prayers that
His bOunties may continue to US and to
| our children.
| In witness whereof have hereanto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed. D.,ne at the city of
| Washington this 4th day of November, in
the year of our Lord 1881 and of the III
dependence of the United States the one
| hundred and sixth.
| CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
| BY the President:
James g. Blaine. Secretary Of State.
| DANIEL BOOKS SNAKE.-A writer In a
| Western paper tells how he was blasting
with gunpowder some large and tough
logs. From one of the logs thus split open
crawled an enormous serpent which was
easily killed. The man who tells the story
continues from this point as follows:
ION stretching it ont found it to be
| thirty-One feet two inches in length, and
the thickest part of its body measul ed
Twenty-Five inches in circumference. 1t
was a different species Of serpent from any
l had ever seen before. Its tail was armed
with sharp pointed curved horn; its body
was variegated with alternate brown and
dirty yellow stripes. and on close eXamI-
nation l discovered that it had been totally
blind; its eyes seem to have turned into a
refectionless hard bone-like substance.
This explained it's undecided hesitating
movements when it first came from the
log. A strange crease appeared about the
neck, just back of the head which [ found
was caused by stout thong of leather,
about which the flesh Of the serpent had
grown until it had sunk almost out of
| view.
Cutting this thong and removing it,
found attached to its under side copper
plate which had heretofore been hidden by
the body of the snake, and on one side OF
it was scratched: I'D. Boone, April 18th,
l779." split the log in two, and near the
lower end Of the hollow found where
there had once been an opening, but long
years ago it had been closed up with plug
made of oak wood about and over which
the maple had grown until it was almost
concealed. The dead appearance of the
small portion visible of the oak plug was
all that called my attention to its exist
ence. My theory of the matter is this
Daniel Boone. many years ago, on the date
recorded upon this piece of copper, caught
the snake, then young and small, fastened
the copper plate about it's neck, and i'm
prlsoned it within the hollow of the tree
by means of the oak plug, where bis snake
ship has remained until the day delivered
him to the free air and sunlight again.