The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1882-11-30
Thanksgiving Day.

The people of the State and nation
will today rest from their Iabors
rejoice and DO exceeding glad. The,
will do SO for various good and suffi
cient reasons. Thanksgiving Da,
has become an accepted and honor
ell national institution that com
mends itself to the habits, customs
sympathies and judgment of til,
American people. Tho celebration
of the day has become SO much {
matter of course that it would be &
kept with or without proclamation
by the President or Governor
Common consent would fix the day
The people rejoice because they fee
like it, and those high officials bu,
voice the popular will when they
Indicate the day that is TO be set
apart for thanksgiving. The consent
of the governed gives all that there
is of authority and potency to the
official proclamations. There is no
written law that compels this day to
he kept in any particular manner by
anybody. The concurrence of the
people is all there is to it. They will
that the day shall be kept after the
time-bonored fashion, and Presi-
dents and Governors but yield ODE.
dieDce to the wish of the sovereign
people when they issue their inyi-
tation to keep the day as one of
thanksgiving. All civilized nations
have their feast days and b holidays.
In all the countries of Christendom
such days are more or less numer-
GUS. Not a few Of those days we
have received as an inheritance
from other lands. But Thanksgiv-
ing Day may be said to be pecu-
liarly American holiday. 1t is in
digenous to the soil, aud as such all
its associations are grateful to the
feelings and sentiments Of our peo-
pie. 1t is purposely fixed at the end
OF the Autumn, when the harvest
has been gathered, and when tho
husbandmaH has good reason to re-
joice at the bountiful yield of the
fruits Of the earth. His barns are
full, his banking account has been
replenished and good cheer is pro,
vided for another year. 1t is a fitting
time at which to rest and be thank
full. The harvest is over, the Sum.
mer is ended, and there is short
respite from toll before the season
for sowing again begins. At this
happy period Thanksgiving Day ar.
rives, just when there is the best
opportunity, and the greatest occa.
sion for making it what its name
implies. Then the vast majority of |
'our conntrymen recognize an over
ruling Providence in the affairs of |
men, without Whose knowledge a |
sparrow does not fall to tho ground. |
In consonance with their belief they |
think it right and proper to honor |
the day as one set apart for the pur-
pose Of special thanksgiving to the
Giver of every good and perfect
gift. Even those who look to natural
causes for all that they have and
are recognize that it is a sorry heart
that never rejoices. Thus Thanks.
giving Day, its associations, it's
methods of feasting and being glad
themselves to all our PEG.
pie without regard to creeds or be-
liefs, and hence it is a Thoroughly
national holiday.
This beautiful custom of observ.
ing one day near the close of the
year-after the harvests have been
garneared, and fields and orchards
robbed oftheir reasures-asa day of
public Thanksgiving and prayer, is
we'll worth our observance. But the
feature of this institution which
has given it an especial beauty, in
Fact, almost a sacredness in the eyes
IF this uoporatson 30 s., :cacorl