The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1885-11-25
THE DAY OF THANKSGIVING.
The Feast Of Turkeys and the Origin
OF the Day...Ancient and Modern
Observances.
ORIGIN OF THE FEAST.


is an interesting topic to trace from its
origin back to the days of ancient and
biblical history. The Hebrews, Greeks
and Romans observed this festival. The
Feast of the Tabernacles occupied seven
days after the ingathering of the harvest.
The people erected villages of booths OF
branches of the palm. and of stalks of
the corn, and decorated them with flow
ers. The encampment at night was
lighted with flambeaux. Professions
with floral banners were formed, bugles
blown, psalms of thanksgiving chanted to
the music of harps, the young joined in
dances. and the reveries and thanksgiv-
ing lasted seven days, when the booths
were thrown down and the people res
turned-to their homes. The Greeks gave
nine days Thanksgiving feast. DEM
eter, the god of harvests, was worshipped
with chants and sacrifices. The festivi-
ties were the same in general character
with those of the Feast of the Tabernac-
les. The Roman feast was similar. 1t
began on the first of October. Cerela,
the Roman divinity of the harvest, was
worshiped. Professions of young people
in crowns of corn and flowers visited the
fields and sang their madrigals, and
danced under the trees to the sound OF
yiols. The English Harvest Home was
brought over by the Saxons, and is the
oldest holiday in England. The festivi-
ties were of the same general character
with those of the three pre- cecding peo>
ple's named.
The first American Thanksgiving oc-
Cured on December II. 1921, just one
year to the day from the landing of the
Pilgrims. 1t is thus described in n letter
written to friend in England by Wins =
low:
You shall understand that in this little
time that few of us have been here we
have built seven dwelling houses, and
four for the use of the plantation, and
have made preparation for eleven others.
We set, the last spring, some twenty acres
of Indian corn, and soweu some six acres
of barley and peas. Our corn did prove
well, God be praised. and our barley in
different good, but our peas not worth
harvesting. Our harvest being gotten
in our governor sent four men on
fowling so that we might after
special manner rejoice together
after we had gathered the fruit of our la
bors. They four in one day killed ms much
fowl as, with little help beside, served
the whole company almost n week, AT
which time among other recreations we
exercised our arms, many of the Indians
arriving amongst us, and among the rest
their greatest king Massasoit, with ninety
men whom for three days we entertained
and Toasted and they went out and killed
five deer. which they brought to the plan
tation and bestowed upon our governor,
and upon the captain end others. And
although it be not always so plentiful as
it was this time with us, yet by the good
ness OF God we are so far from want that
we often wish you partakers of onl
plenty.
The second American Thanksgiving,
oney ear later, was of a more serious
character. There was a rainless summer
and dread Of famine. Therefore on thu
18th of July fast day vast observed. LII
the evening great rain began, which
lasted in showers for ten days. A boun'
tiful crop was harvested, and Thanksgiv'
ing that year was observed with devoul
| worship, without other than solemn fes-
tivities. AS the colony grew larger the
festivities formed in groups around the
| family, the ancestral home being the cen'
ter to which children and grandchil
dren gathered The Puritan spirit strips
ped it of the gay festivities with which
the feasts of Tabernacles, of Demetcr, OF
Cerelia, and the English Harvest Home
was celebrated. The family grouping
also limited the gayety of the festival
Thanksgiving was, until recent years, Il
New England institution. 1t has now
become national, day of feast, JOY and
praise, an occasion of gloom only to the
turkeys. 1t has become one of Americas
few national holidays and is celebrated in
accordance with proclamations prcviously
issued by the president and the governors
of the various states. In the morning
services are held in the different churches
the remainder of the.day being devoted tc
festivities. The occasion is, however
taking in more of its ancient character
istics. 1t may return to something like
the ancient Feast of the Tabernacles -
when the girls will be belted with whea
and crowned with flowers. thanksgiving
psalms sung to bands of music, banner:
waved over professions. snd torches illu'
inmate the evening twilight. A time Of
Jubilee similar to our Fourth of July
racket.
| LOCAL OBSERyANCEs.
In Rock Island there will be genera
observance. Traffic on all the railroads
the c.. R. l. & P. c., 3. & O.. c., M. &
st. p, and II. I. e. p. will be lessened as
far as possible. With the exception OF
local freight freight trains will be an
nulled, the passenger trains, however
running as usual. The local freight Off
ces will be closed.
The ARGUS force. like all good citizens
will celebrate turkey day strictly and APP
propriately, consequently no paper to-
morrow night, as we will be too full Col
turkey for utterance.
The offices about the county building
those of circuit and county clerk, sheriff
and treasurer, will be closed, as will the
city clerks and other municipal offices
except that of the marshal.