Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-11-26
Thanksgiving Day.

Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving day is now quite gener-
ally observed in all parts OF the country.
There is considerable difference in the de-
grees Of strictnes, with which it is OBJ
served, however, in different sections, but
this difference is gradually disappearing.
In the New England States the Thanks
giving festival is made about as much OF
as the Christmas festival. II is looked
forward to with antic patrons Of pleasure
by both old and young people. The work
OF preparing for 1t Is begun soon alter the
customary Thanksgiving proclamation
is issued. The finest turkeys are selected
to be fattened, and there is extra care ex-
ercised in making the mince pies aud
doughnuts. There are great family gath
erings at the old bomesteads. The sons
and daughters with their children gather
about the hospltable tables OF their faith
ers, and rejoice that they have SO many
Things to be thankful tor. sriaeit
The pleasures of these annual gather
ings are being more and more appreciated
in the South, and there is, therefore, in
the Southern States a growing regard far
| tuc luduheSlNluB lSbtAfals
There are many, Of course, who think
they have little to be thankful FOR, and
who do not regard the Thanksgiving or.
any other festival with much satisfaction.
Others are so absorbed in money getting,
or in projects for their own aggrandize-
ment that they begrudge the time given
to merry-making, or to returning thanks
for benefits received.
The great majority Of people, however,
find happiness in the Thanksgiving festi-
val. They are happy because they are
able TO throw aside care for a day, and
devote themselves to seeking happiness
and to making others happy. Even those
who do not think that the festival adds
anything TO their joys, would find occasion
for satisfaction if they would only frankly
acknowledge the debt which they owe a
kind Providence.
The poor ought not to be forgotten.
Those who have plenty ought TO do their
part, at least once year, towards fur
nishing good dinners for those whose
purses are TOO slender to indulge in lux
uries. There is no better sauce for a
Thanksgiving dinner than the con scIous-
ness Of having done charitable deed. 1t
is in the power Of those whom fortune has
blessed, without any appreciable sacri-
dee on their part, to assist in making
to-day many homes happier.
1t is now customary to appoint the last
Thursday in November as ThanksgivIng
day. This custom is not very old, how
ever. The PRAYER book OF the Protestant
Episcopal church, which was ratified in
1889, recommends the first Thursday in
November for day OF Thanksgiving, and
as late as 1864 one Thursday Of November
was as likely to be selected as another for
Thanksgiving.
In this country the custom OF setting
| apart day for Thanksgiving began in
New England. The custom, however,
was brought from Europe, and was sug-
gested by the Hebrew feast OF ia ernacIes
There were occasional appointment of
Thanksgiving days in Massachusetts
| prior to 1880, but after that date the Gus.
tom became annual. At frst the appoint
ment was for special reasons, and oc-
Cured at any time OF the year, but later
it was for abundant harvests, and oc-
Cured after all the crops were gathered
and winter preparations had been COM
pleted.
During the revolution, Thanksgiving
day was national affair authorized by
Congress, and in 1889 the adoption Of the
constitution was the occasion OF a procla-
nation by President Washington, recon-
mending day Of thanksgiving. Duriue
the civil war President Lincoln establish
ed the custom Of appointing day OF
thanksgiving, and it has been strictly OBJ
served ever since. While the rhanksgiv-
ing festival was early established in New
England. it did not obtain much recogui-
tion in the Middle and Southern States for
many years after it became an institution
there. There was no annual Thanksgiving
day in New York until 1917. and as late as
1858 the Governors of only eight Southern
States appointed day Of thanksgiving.
The festival is so generally observed now.
however, that there is not much prOba-
bllity that its celebration will be neglect
ed in any State in the near future.