National Republican., 1885-11-26

Ricttd arc npt to contrast their condition
with that Of persons whom they deem more
fortunate than themselves. They look from
the small windows Of their humble homes
ON the splendid dwellings Of their rich
ncighIofs and feel that It would be much
easier TO give thanks aud he jolly II they,
too, were thus housed;if instead of piuching
poverty, they hud the luxuries that wealth
provides.
But these repining poor arc often mis-
taken In their judgment, are often envious
Of the supposed happiness of persons less
happy than themselves, The size and cost
Of house are not gauge of the happiness
Of its occupants. Wealth is not felicity.
Pure domestic enjoyment is as often found
IN hut ns IN palace. The process of ac-
quting riches often units their owner for
any real enjoyment Of them. lie who will
study mankind intellgently and closely
will learn that the good things Of this life
mental, moral, and matcrial-are less I'M
evenly distributed than is generally sup
posed. While the day laborer, bent with
toll and hard pressed to provide for his wife
aud children, envies the cold, proud rich
man who lives opposite, that rich man may
be gancing across the street catching
glimpses of blooming wife and bright
happy children, and thinking Of two or
three mounds in the cemetery which repre-
sent all that he has ever known OF "the
only bliss Of paradise that has survived the
fall"
Which is the happier man Of those two,
A 1, t-f,, 81 70. Ns,I Ia,.
the laborer in his bright little home, made
comfortable by the products Of his toll,
surrounded by wife aud little ones, or
the millionaire who sits down alone TO his
sumptuous dinner and, looking through the
vista Of buried years, recalls the festal days
of the past aud the faces and forms Of the
loved ones who once sat at that board with
himP
As people we have moro reasons for
thankfulncss than any other nation on
earth for the conditions Of life are better
here for all classes than in any other coun-
try. We have the freest and best system of
overnment-imperfec as 1t is in its work
ings-that has ever been devised We have
such material resources as no other people
ever dreamed of--so grand that we cannot
half appreciate them. We have made such
progress in science, art, literature, and all
substantial industries us excite the wonder
Of mankind when the comparative youth
fulness of the country is taken into account.
Two hundred and sixty-four years ago the
Pilgrim fathers kept the first Thanksgiving
Day. That period is but four lives of an
veragelength of &C years Compared with
the lapse Of ages 1t is only little while.
But what q change has been wrought In that
brief space--a change so great, so marvel
GUS that no picture, by pen or pencil, could
describe it-so magnificent that even con
ception Of 1t passes the possibilities oI
humanity. To have been born in such q
land as this and to have lived in this age ol
wondrous achievements is something to bt
| thankful for.
For an abundant supply Of all those
| products Of the soil which are necessary Il
the sustenance of the people for peaceful
relations between all the states and with al
foreign countries for the absence of devas
tating diseases, and for the general preva
lence of health and prosperity, all should
be truly grateful.
For government so strong and civi
service so admirably arranged that sudder
incursion Of inexperience and greed hai
not been seriously injurious, let hearty
thanks be given.
For that broad measure of Democratic
=
lives Of four out OF eighty-tiye Republican
internal revenue collectors, is it possible t,
be too profoundly thankfully
For our country's glorious past, for it
grand present, and for its future incompar
ably rich in promise, let us give the SINGER
thanks of grateful hearts.