The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-12-03
LEGAL HOLIDAYS-HOW THEY
ARE OBSERVED.

Thanksgiving has become one of the
most popular and best observed holt
days of the year. Indeed it is about
the only one which has not degener-
ated. The modern Christmas is en-
tirely unlike the Christmas of the
early days in this country. 1t was
then the custom of the people to as
semble in their respective churches
for religious services. 1t is now Oh
served as sort of children's day, when
the older members of the family
are children once more; general
time for the younger members of the
family to receive an abundant supply
of confectionery, and often something
Of more value; the older members,
too, are pleased to be the recipients of
some token of remembrance. AS for
the usual services on Christmas day,
cOmmemorating the birth of Christ,
for which the day is designed, that has
become mostly obsolete. 1t is true
Christmas sermons are sometimes
preached in the churches on Sundays,
before, on or after Christmas. New
Years holiday has always been miscel.
laneously observed The customs of
the day have been various in different
places; turkey shoots, raffles, call MAX
ing, eating ard dining, Misunderstanding
and happy wishing, are now some of
the characteristics of the day. Wash
ington's birthday, February 22d, is a
legal holiday, but one hears as little
about Washington on that day as of
the Slaughter of the Innocents."
Fourth of July is no longer the indie
pendence day of aforetimes. It was
once the custom of the people regular
ly TO assemble on that day and listen
to the story of the Revolution, told by
some chosen orator. The hardships
and sufferings of our forefathers DUR
ing that terrible seven years war, to
achieve for US the rights of self-govern-
ment, were rehearsed and imprinted
on the minds of old and young. But
the story of the American revolution
is seldom now the theme of Fourth of
July orators; it has become old and
worn out. Fire-crackers monopolise
the patriotic observance of the day.
Decoration day is legalized holiday,
and worthy to be remembered by every
friend of his country, but there is
danger of lis falling into neglect, except
in some of the larger towns and cities.
Thanksgiving is really a humanita-
rian day-a day of good works, of noble
charities, and noticeably day of
Christian unity, when UNCONVENTIONAL
lines are dropped, and all come togeth.
er to render devout thankfulness for
the mercies of an overriding Pr)vi.
dence. Thanksgiving, last week, APP
pears to have been day of overflow
ing charities in all quarters. The
Young Mems Christian Association in
Milwaukee, by the aid of the ladies of
the city, provided free dinner in their
rooms for large number of men of
all ages, representing nine different
nationalities, of all religions. After
dinner there were left twenty-four
baskets of food, to be distributed
among the poor families of the city.
This bounty was but one among the
many in the city supplying good din
ners to those in need. As an example
Of commendable Christian unity
among the many of the kind, Bishop
Cheney, of the Reformed Episcopal
church of Chicago, invited five leading
clergymen of that city, four of whom
were of different denominations, to
union service in Christ's Episcopal
church. These clergymen, with large
representation of members from their
churches. participated in the services,
which, in part, were peculiar to Epis-
copal forms, but essentially the same
in spirit as all others. 1t should not
be deemed of sufficient Importance to
mention instances of Christian unity