New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-11-25
PRICE FOUR CENTS.
THE NATIONAL FESTIVAL.


TO MAKE THE POOR HAPPY
The Nations Thanksgiving feast yesterday
was observed widely in this city and in Brook
lyn and suburban places. The day was cold
and sometimes dreary, but every now and then
through break in the clouds came the bright
sunshine. There was a great deal of merry.
making in family circles, and much amuse-
ment was found at the theatres and at other
places of recreation. The religious services
were also well attended in the morning. A
football game at the Polo Grounds in
the afternoon drew great crowd Of specta-
tors. The teams were from Yale and Prince
ton, and after much pushing and tumbling the
sport ended in a draw, which has become the
most marked feature in these games recently.
In all the charitable institutions Thanksgiving
feasts were provided for the poor; and the
prisoner and the captives were not forgotten.
GENERAL FEATURES OF THE DAY.
A DARK MORNING FOLLOWED BY BRIGHT AFTsR
NOoN-sCENEs IN THE sTREEJs-ATTENpANCE
AT THE CHURCHES AND AT PLACES OF AAUsE-
MENT.
There was not much prospect of good weather at
daybreak yesterday. 1t was hardly cold enough TO
but it looked if it might rain at any minute
Indeed several times in the course of the morning
there was scattering fall of raipdrops, but this
only lasted for few moments. Toward noon
the came ont from behind tho
clouds, and the afternoon was as pleasant
could wish overhead The air cold
and biting, however, and those persons who were
rash enough to 60 out Of doors without heavy
wraps or OvercOats or ulsters suffered for
their temerity. The day very gener-
a y observed throughout the city, but rather
quietly. Its character and the services connected
with it seemed to recall the death of Pres
ident Garfield forcbly to the mind of
everyone. The prosperity of many
people has been great in the last year, and sense
of personal happiness was visible in almost every
cOuntenance. Still. whenever men and women met
to congratulate themselves on their good fortune.
the national bereavement was sooner later
the subject of sad comment. President
Garfeld's sufferings and death cast shade of sor-
row over the happiest. And the sad Garfield
household in the West was not forgotten Kind.
very kind were the expressions of sympathy for
the widow and the heart-brOken, aged mother.
There was even now and then word of commits
seratlon for the wretched assassin in his cell at
Washington, coupled with expressions of lndigua-
tion at the indecent levity Of his trial.
The services at the churches were well attended,
and many of the principal streets were tlroDged In
the morning with well-dreSsed men and women on
their way 10 places of worship. AT some OF the
churches there were union services; in many or
| them there were appropriate displays of MOVERS
AMI fruits, and the music sung was suited
to the day Most of the preachers in their dlsconrses
,lwet upon the death of the late President. Fifth
| ave- was made lively between noon and o'clock
| by numerous coaches on their way to the Polo
| Grounds where the football match between ale ana
Princeton TO be played, Ii seemed as II every
coach in the city was IN use, and even omnionses
dressed men and women were seated in them and
| on them, and from each yehele foatasl blue or
| black and yellow flag, and in many instances the
| viii nf he DIR harnesses
were adorned with ribbons OF the same c0!ors Ihera
was the usual number of excursions yesterday OF
| social clubs into the country. Forming at s0m6
| rendezvous, with music at their head, ranging
| from snare drum to brass band, they marched to
the tr ms or wagons which were to convey them to
their destinations. There were not SO many bands OK
begcars paradng the streets as usual and the num-
| Der of 'Inaskers" was also smaller.
Most of the theatrrs gave matlnees ana their per-
fomances were well attended both in the afternoon
and evening. Notwithstanding the cold weather,
| there was considerable driving III the Park, and
there some last horses out on ST. Nlchoas-aye.
| and the Boulevard.
THE POOR AND DESTITUTE CARED FOR.
BoUYl lIFUL THANKSGIVING DINNERS FURNISHED AT
| CHARITABLE INsnTUTIoNs-THE INMATES MADE
| HAPPY-sCENEs IN THE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
| AND AROUND THE CITY.
| The day scholars OF the Wilson Mission. at No.
125 st. Mark's.place received their Thanksgiving
dinner Yesterday in accordance with the usnal Gus
| tom at that institution. Besides the regular at
tendapts at the school, many of the former scholars
were present swelling the numbers TO over 300 and
as the children belonged TO the poorest families In
the neighborhood the dinner was treat long to 10
| remembered by them. Many of them requested TO
no nermIttcd TO carry part of their dinner home,
and they were not denied. The tables in the large
| dininp-room were abundantly filed with good
things, and turkey, chicken, minee pies
and ice cream rapidly disappeared be-
fore the ravenous appetites of the children until
each one was satisfied. The poultry was the gift OF
Samuel Sloan, who present with other visitors
| in the afternoon Before dinner served tho
children assembled in the schOol-rOOm where ex-
aminations were held in the various studies taught
at the Mission in which the scholars acquitted them
| selves well An interesting feature OF the Thanks
giving season at the Mission is the distribution on
The previous day of baskets of provisions among the
| noorer families in the neighborhood. On Wednes-
| dav over 14O families were thus supplied with
substantial Thanksgiving dinners.
| Yesterday was q merry day for the little people
connected with the Howard Mission, as well as for
tbe little wanderers" of the vicinity who merely
dronncI in for the day to share in the good cheer
which the many generous benefactors OF the lnsti-
tut,on had provided Atnoon the doors were thrown
open aud the pupils of the infant school, 800 In All,
filed into their schoo-room and took their seats at
the two long tables. Beforeeach hungry wall wasa
| rtote with miniature mountain OF roast turkey,
cold tongue, ham, cake, pie and apples or oranges
besides an immense mug of coffee, which latter was,
for the sake of the childrens health moi quite fun,
as IT held nearly a quart. The table was also
adorned with many whole roast turkeys and several
roast pigs. After tine infant school had dined. 400
| of the primary scholars sat down TO the tables;
then about 300 of the Older scholars, followed bv
| over 500 mothers and fathers of the children and
poor people not connected with the Mission over
| 1,5OO were fed in all The provisions came Hom
| marketmen and hotels, well as from the
| more OF less wealthy friends of the Mission.