Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-11-29


dence and that what he designs by them
is, at one and the same time, our Protection
and our Opportunity.
THANKSGIVING DAY.
ITS ORIGIN, HISTORY, AND SOME or ITS OBJ
SERT4NCES.
The .Nugazine Of american History gives
us the history of Thanksgiving day and
its origin. From the papers we learn that
the earliest thanksgiving service was held
by the Church of England men. The Pop
ham colonists, who, August 8, 1907 60: 81
landed upon MOnhegan, near the kennebec,
and under the shadow of a high cross, lis
tened to a sermon by Chaplain Seymour,
"giving good thanks for our happy meetings
and safe arrival in the country"
Next we pass to Plymouth, where in 1921,
the autumn after the arrival, a notable
thanksgiving was held. The brief accounts
present joyous picture. Aswe learn from
WinsloW, the harvest being gathered, the
governor "sent four men out fowling, that so
we might, after special manner, rejoice to-
gether," and the traditional turkey was
added to the abundant venison. The people
gave themselves up to recreation, and the
great chief Massasoit was feasted for three
Possibly on this first Plymouth thanks
giving, there was more carousing than we
suppose, while there is not the slightest in
dication of any religious observance. Mas
sasoit and his braves, no doubt, enjoyed it
all greatly, as the thanksgiving idea was en-
tertained by the Indians before their con-
tact with the whites, and in their celebrations
there was much excess. How much "com-
Portable warm water" the grave and rever-
end elders themselves consumed during
those three days of jollity, Bradford does
not say.
In 1922 there is no mention of thankSgiv
ing, but in 1923 a day was kept, not, hoWev-
er, in the autumn as a harvest festival, but
in July, upon the arrival of some provisions.
After this nothing more is heard Of thanks
giving at Plymouth for nearly half centu-
ry So far as the colonial records go, they
indicate that the day did not find revival
until 1868, when there was some kind OF
thanksgiving. Again, June q, 1859, there
was a thanksgiving for the accession of
William and Mary. In 1890 an autumnal
thanksgiving was held, and the next year
Plymouth colony was merged in Massachu-
sets, and so passes out of the story. lfany
festival can be said to have been establish
ed, it was established in imitation of the
customs across the sea. Distinct religious
societies, however, may have kept OCCASION
al thanksgivings, as the people at Barnsta-
BILE observed thanksgiving on December q,
1886, and December II, 1885,
In the Massachusetts colony the first
thanksgiving was held at Boston, July s,
1880, it being special occasion, having no
reference to harveStS. Again, in February,
1851, there was thanksgiving, as already
noticed. In the October following a thanks
giving was held for the safe arrival Of "Nrs.
Winthrop and her children" In these ap
pointments we do not find the thanksgiving
that we know to-day, nor do we detect any
fell design against Christmas. In 1852, on
June 5, there was a thanksgiving for the
victories in the Palatinate, and in October
another for the harvest. In 1857 there was
a thanksgiving for victory over the Pequots,
and in 1888 for the arrival of ships and for
the harvest. The thanksgiving days from
1854 to 1913, numbered about tWenty-One,
or less than one in every two years. The
celebration of 1876 had special reference to
the victory over King Phillip. From this
period until the re e,olution, a Thanksgiving
of some kind occu red nearly evecy other
l742. Some of these days were appointed
by the royal governors, while again they
were ordered by the King or Queen or by
the home board of trade.
After the close of the revolution a tenden
cy to make Thanksgiving day a regular in
StitutiOn in New York, was at once appa-
rent, and Gov. John Jay, in 1885, issued
proclamation for the l1th of November.
The act, however, was seized upon by poll
ticians, who maintained that he was seek
ing to tlatter religious prejudice.
At an early period, also, the Mayors of
New York were accustomed to appoint
day of thanksgiving, in accordance with the
recommendations OF the council, and that OF
first SO ordered. Yet the observance of the
day until Gov. Clintons time, was more or
less broken. The festival was kept, hoWev-
er, by Episcopalians, according to the pro-
visions Of the prayer-boOk, other religious
bodies at the same time following their own
preferences. Clnton's course, like Jays,
excited criticism. At the east end of Long
Island. there was no little murmuring be-
cause the day did not coincide with the local
custom. 1t appears that the people of East
and Southampton observed thanksgiving on
the Thursday after the cattle were driven
home from the common pastures at Mon
tauk Point, the day Of the return of the cat
tie being fixed annually, with due solemni-
ty, at the town meeting. Hence, there was
Il collision, and the herdsmen were divided,
tie strova with those of Lot. But this was
no case Ofan immovable body opposed to an
irresistible force, and therefore, the oppO-
nents of Clinton gave way, though not With
out many eXpostulations. Here was the
beginning Of the movement which led to
the first Presidential proclamation national
izing Thanksgiving day.
THE"LEA DER" EDITORS FUTURE.-The
flag has dropped on pOnderous journalism.
The great, good-natured public will put up
with much, but it will not have a daily mag
azine at the breakfast table. 1t will read q
paragraph between its ham and eggs, but it
hasn't time for a revieW-the eggs would
get cold. When this old hat was new, some
hundred years ago, the public hankered and
hungered for long editorial articles. 1t
doesn't do it now. 1t has more sense, and
besides, the world has moved peg or two.
When the public reads long article nova
days it must be larGed with news, not some
mans opinion warmed over a dozen times.
This being the case, the thought as to the
future of the powerful "leader" writer is a
saddening one. What ever will become of
the man with the brow like Mercury new
lighted on heaven-kissing hill and the
thrObbing intellect? There is a grave
chance that there will not be enough wood
piles to 90 around Cincinnati Enquirer.
A CURIOUS OFFICIAL REPORT-A Wash
ington paper of Friday publishes a state
ment that there is now on file IN the de-
partment of justice report, the contents OF