Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1881-11-23
THANKSGIVING DAY.
a Thanksgiving Chat with the Reader-.-How the
Occasion was Formerly Observed.

Occasion was Formerly Observed.
1t would be curious study to trace
to their sources the changes in circ1m.
stances and mental habits which have
c2mblned to render the Thanksgiving
day Of 1881 SO widely different from thai
of the Puritan fathers of 1921.
The practice was originally suggested.
doubtless, by the Hebrew Feast of the
tabernacles, or "feast of Firegathering
at the end of the year," and the first au
thentlc record OF such a day among mod
ern times credits it to the civic authori-
ties OF Leyden, Holland, October 8,
1875, the first anniversary of the deliver
ence OF the city from siege. Persecution
drove the English Puritans to Holland
In 1908, and the practice appealed ire
s1stably to their morbid condition. Find
ing refuge finally in the new world.
the custom was transplanted, and. after
gathering the first harvest at Plymouth
In 1921, we find Governor Bradford send
ing four men out fowling to the end that
they "might, after more especial man.
ner, rejoice together" In July, 1923,
the colonists suffered severely from
drought, and day of fasting and prayer
was appointed, during which the rain de-
scended in torrents, and the governor
appointed day OF Thanksgiving to be
observed with religious services.
The arrival OF q vessel with needed
supplies, the successful gathering of the
harvest, additions to their number, an
action Of the British privy council favor
able to their interests, victories over their
savage foes, were al made the occasion
OF Thanksgiving days, and by 1880 1t ap-
pears to have become an annual custom
But the earnest, though possibly mistak-
en-, piety of the founders of the custom
could not tolerate the idea of praising
the Lord "wlth gladness, and one can
readily imagine the horror with which
they would have regarded the unre-
strained mlrth and jolity spiced with
friyollty with which the day is now asso-
oiated
In it's inception and for many years
after it became an established custom.
the day was distlnctively one of religious
observance, as devoid of merriment or
enjoyment of any description as that
gloomiest of days, Puritan Sabbath.
More prosperous circumstances a
broader culture and more catholic
spirit brought many ameliorations of
creed, greater tolerance, and truer
charity, and the New England Thanks
giving day gradually became the great
home and social festival of the year.
Up to tn e time Of the revolution the
habit appears to have been confined to
the New England states and New York,
but during that struggle it first became
a national custom, the continental con-
gress annually recommending the OBJ
servation of d day of Thanksgiving. In
1884 there was a general thanksgiving
far peace. The next occasion when the
whole people united III observance of the
day was Ill 1889 when General Washing
ton, acting upon the suggestion of con-
gress, recommended day of thanks for
the adoption of the constitution. In
1895 Washington issued a second pro
clamatlon calling on the people to unite
in a general thanksgiving for the sup
preston OF lnsurrecEOn. From this time
till 1916 there was no presidential
recommendation, but on the close of the
war with Great Britain Madison obeyed
the request OF congress and Dameda day
of thanksgiving for the peace which had
been concluded In April.
From Madison in 1915 to Lincoln in
1862, no President attempted to secure d
national observance of the day, but in
the latter year, as also in 1868, Presi-
dent Lincoln called upon the people to
observe day, which he named, adopt
ing the same course in 1868 and 1864.
Since then similar proclamation has
been issued by the President each year,
as well as by the governors of all the
states, and the mayors of the CHEZ
cities, and the day has became national
holiday, which usage has fixed for tbe
last Thursday in November. Even il
New England the day has long been dis
associated from the restraints and dis
comforts of severe and formal austerity
which regarded smile as indicative OF
lightness, punished kissing as almost IN.
pardonable sin.
Human love and sympathy nave rem,
dered these anniversaries occasions of real
thanksgiving, on which the dread ter.
rors of an unknown and unknowable
future are forgotten in the joyful out
pourings of an exultant gratitude fol
past blessings and present enjoyment.