The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1885-11-26
"; b / q III
THANKSGIVING DAY.

Among al the holidsy3 none are
more aGtractiYe than THANKSGIVING
Is is g day of rest, Of tosstiug, OF
friendly Intercourse, and yet re-
iigieus festival, and is annually be-
coming moro and more popular and
aEdsaring itself to all the people of our
grest country. Our famed foreiathers
the Pilgrims, left us no more beautiful
nGE acceptable custom, and the de-
scandanss of the Southern cavaliers
are Of late years entering heartily into
the celebration of the occasion. 1t is
one Il those pleasant stopping places
on the rough road Of lifoswhere wasted
nature ia restored and where for a
shors 5sason the better impulses pre-
vail and the kindlier thoughts are up
per most.
The cslsbration OF such day is OF
New england origin. Those old, atsrn
men Who laid the foundations OF lib
erty and great republic in this West
ern world believed in tho direct and
positive interference of providence in
mundane IS they believed in
their owr oe 9nce. Nothing of evil
or good "a sd IN their lives that
they. die aligiously and rever-
emily and at once ascribe to the inter.
position of providence. And in
deed such were thor mi
raculous escape and successes
against the savages OF this
continent and tho cultured tyranny OF
Europe, such seemingly the supernu-
man agency guarding and guiding
them, it is no wonder that annually q
day OF devout Thanksgiving to the
Divine Ruler was set apart in their
stern but conscientious moral code.
Gradually the New England custom,
as many other New England ideas,
ass srtsd itself in other sections until
now it is really great national holt
day, as 1t purports to be. In 1862, by
legislative enactment, it was made a
national holiday and, as before sug-
gested, is now one Of the pleasantest
and most beautiful festivals of the
year.
Ii there be o divinity shaping our
ends and controlling human happen
ings, then truly can the people of
America this year most profoundly
and sincerely engage in 3 common
festival of thanks for the many profit
able experiences OF the year. While
pestilence has wasted other lands and
unpropitious seasons have prevented
the usual generosity of the earth, and
war and rumors OF war have disturbed
the general peace and prosperity In
other lands, the skies that have
Bonded go gracefully over the
Great Republic have brought,
with one sad exception that
fell upon US yesterday, only
cloudless sunshine in the health, hap
piness, quiet and prosperity OF its
people. A generous cornucopia has
poured its richest gifts agriculturally,
financially and politically, at the pub.
lies feet and all with us has been even
as the heart could desire it.
1t is extremely gratifying to see thsi
annually the observance OF this
Thanksgiving festival is widening,snd
that America is one in reasons for re.
joicing and returning thanks. The
schisms and broils, the bitter animosi-
ties, tho distinctions and perse-
cutioua nj a few wears since, have passed
away happily. No State nor section
can complain of having been refused
its share in the general benefits of the
year, and It is to be hoped that each
fsstival of the kind hereafter
will only commemorate yet more nu-
mereus and pronounced causes for a
national rejoicing and grateful recoi-
lection OF the wisdom and goodness Of
that great Being who holds us all and
Dur complicated destinIes IN the hol-
lnxw of His hand. ~ 10 4