The Washington critic., 1886-11-24
TMANIksGINING.

THANKSGIVING.
The first Thanksgiving celebration
of which any note is made in the arch
ives of New England took place
at Plymouth in the fall Of 1921. The
Pilgrim fathers hadn't much to be
thankful for at that time, but they
had achieved their first harvest. 1t
was not much of crop, to be sure,
but II was something, and they deemed
the occasion worthy of religious and
social commemora,ion They felt so
grateful for not being starved to death
that they invited old Chief Massasoit
and about ninety Of his Indians to join
in the jubilee, and according to the
carly Histories the Chief contributed
large quantity OF venison to help out
the somewhat meagre meHR of the
feast.
The next Thanksgiving was cele-
brated in July, 1880, in honor Of the
arrival Of several ship loads of we'll
equipped immigrants, among whom
were the ancestors of the Saltonstalls.
the Winthrops and other blue.blooded
gentry, including no doubt consign-
ment of Mugwump seed. The first
really official day of Thanksgiving,
however, with red tape accompani-
ments, of which there is any
account, was celebrated in February,
1851. 1t had been hard winter
for the colonists, notwithstanding
the mighty Winthrops and the lofty
Saltonstalls, and they were living
on very short commons, when q big
cargo of supplies arrived in Boston aud
brought ample relief to our gaunt and
hungry forefathers. They forthwith
proceeded to eat, drink and sing songs
by the Governors special direction.
So in time the festival came to be a
fixed institution, not only in Massachu.
sets, but other New England States,
with the same terminating idea of
gratitude for deliverance from evil as
its basis that inspired the original
Thanksgiving dinner at Plymouth.
1t assumed the likeness of National
institution on the 18th day Of August,
1868, by proclamation Of Abraham
Lincoln, with the guns of Vicksburg
and Gettysburg echoing in his ears.
Since that time it has been cele.
brated on the last Thursday in Novem-
ber in Difference to its early colonial
associations. May it long continue, and
all the people Of all the States become
converts to the religion of its observ-
ance.
For there is no higher religious senu-
ment than gratitude, except it be
charity. To be thankful for the bless
ings we have is the symbol of an eXalt-
ed faith; TO be liberal in their distribu.
tion among those who have them moi
is akin to Divine compassion.
Therefore it is well that in the midst
of the rejoicings peculiar to this festi.
val season. warmed and irradlated as
it is by the glow of happy fresides
hallowed by so many dear remem
FRANCES and commemorated by the
fondest reunions vouchsafed to human
experience, we should lovingly bear IL
mind the pitiable estate Of those II
whose firesides the embers have died on
and from the shining circle of who's
friendships the gems have fallen away
The good things of life are most to b
enjoyed by those who take generou
pleasure in their enjoyment by others
and he whose thankfulness wears n
sober tnts of regret for the thankles
lot of his distressed neighbor mis-
takes his own selfshnoss for sense o
gratitude.
Happiest he, who on such occasion
as these, makes an open.handet
charity keep company with an open
hearted sympathy, that none within
his reach may regard the solemn invo
cation to give thanks as altogether
mockery of their sorrows.
There are few Of us but have some
thing to be thankful for. Even oil,
Governor ireland of Texas, who's
people during the past year have know
little else than consuming droughts I
one direction and devastating floods |
another, takes comfort in the fact this
they have not been carried of by tn
yellow fever, or blown wholly out t
sea by the cyclones,
We can at least thank God that ba
as 1t may be, II Is not as bad as 1t migl
be. Most Of us may thank Him thG
we have so much more than we reall
deserve.