Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-11-30

Nowadays, whether, as is some times
the case. the people have reasons not to
be very thankful, still THANKSGIVING
Day is now one of the established Gus
toms Of the United States, and is az
much day of rejoicing as of prayer
and thankful praise.
Thanksgiving days are sequenta of
past welfare. They become 1s1ot Prospect
i've periods during which tho Divine
bestOwal Qf public and private blessings
is gratefully recognized. Their history
| in this part of America begins as early
as the year 1921. The peculiar circum.
stances which led to the setting apart of
q period of thanksgiving by the Pill
grims are described by Edward Wins
low in letter dated Plymouth, Decem-
Der IL. 1921. Of the l02 immigrants
who landed on the 11th told style) of
December, 1870. on the bleak coast of
Cape Cod Bay, almost half of that
number had sickened and died, and
nearly all of the remainder had physi-
cally suffered from restitution and the
riROr of the first winter in the new
country. Tho prudence and industry
OF the few persons who were not dis
abled were so greatly blessed as to call
forth the thankfulness of the favored
people lin special manner"
You shall understand that in this
little time that few of Us have boon
here We have built seven dwelling hous-
e. and four for the use of the planta-
tons and have made preparation for
several others. We set the last spring
twenty acres Of barley and peas; and
according to tho manner of the Indians,
We MANFRED our ground with behring's.
or rather shad, which We have in great
abundance and take with great ease at
our doors. Our corn did prove well. and
God DO praised. We had good increase
OF Indian CON, and our barley indiffer-
ent good, and our peas not worth the
gathering, for We feared they were too
late sown. They came up very late and
b!ossomed, but the sun parched in the
blossom.
GRATITUDE OF TIE PpRrrANs.
The manner in which they manifested
their gratitude for the blessings attend
ing them during the first year Of their
settlement at Plymouth somewhat de-
tracts from the popular belief that the
Puritans were ssoularly and rsligiously
q very serious and sober people.
Our harvest being gotten IN, our gov
eminent sent four men on fOWlinR ex-
pediiion. that We might, after a special
manner. rejoice toRether after We had
the fruit Of our labor. They, four, in
Que day killed as many fowl as, with a |
little beside, served the company almost
Q week. At that time, among other rec
reations We exercised our arms, many
OF the Indians coming among us, and
among the rest their greatest king, Mas
sasoit, with some ninety men, whom for |
three days Ne entertained and Toasted, |
and they went ont and killed 1--WE dear,
wnicn they Thought to the plantation |
ana bestowed upon the Governor and |
upon the Captain and others. And al
though It be not always so plentiful a.
II was as this time with Us, yet. By the
Roooneee OF God. We are 20 far from /
want sn.s We often wish you pa1takers
OF our plenty"
DeTR1 THE TURKEY,
The great abundance of Wild turkey,
Astounding In the neighborino fore:ta
no doubt supplied the PurltSns With |
fowl sufficient for their hospitality. The !
turkey which nov is 80 highly priced bv |
the people Of the United Statee for
Thanksgiving dinners may have in this |
way obtained its peculiar prominence |
among the viauds Of the table.
DUTCH PRocy.ANArYoHs.
The people Of New Netherland NJ a
very early date observed days Of Thanks-
giving. Among the Dutch recorda n
the ofiice Of the Secretery Of Stato Ara
preserved pr0clamations Of ThankaoIv- |
ing Days in l6l5 and l667 OF the Coun-
oil OF New Mcfarland. William Kielt
vas 0ovelner in l645 of the colony and |
Dafector19eneral Of the Council. On
we SIS OF August. l645. the Council, nit
one q Fort Amsterdam, New York,
Resolved In council 70 proclaim q |
general THANKSGIVING, which thankaRiv- |
ing eoaI take place on the 9Th Of Sep- |
semoer next IN all the Dutch and Enc.
IN chcrsnsa within the limits Of New
NstherlAnd."
The proclamation reads:
"WhersAs, it has pleased ALMIGHTY
6od, IN His onboonded clemency and |
mercy, IN addition 10 many peovious /
oee.Aana 20 suher ~ TO reach . lune
wtahed tor peace With the Indians;
Ihereforo IL u deemed necessary 10 |
proclaim The fact 20 all thoas Of New
Neeherjand 70 the end that In al plaoss
within the Aforesaid country whore
Dutch and Enaiiah cAureAas are esaab-
liahsd God Almighty nay b especially
thanked. praised aud haauDed on nexs
Wednesday forsnoon, hsine ~ Oh Of
september. the text 10 b appRupeiats
md The eesmon 10 Be Appliaahls thefsto.
Your 2sversnoo VIII poeaae Announos
hi uAsas. b H. eoaeseeatiou naz1i
s04aY - tAAt ~ ~ havo 1oetoo.
y - - soly.s