The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-28
QUERIES AND ANSWERS.
TRANSFORMING DAY


To the Editor of the Indianapolis journal:
Whatsgas the origin of Thanksgiving day. When
and ot8Rhom was the first national Thanksgiving
proclamation issued in the United Statesl ALL.
NATIONAL SOLDIERS HOME, Dayton, o.
1t is tue outgrowth of the Saxon harvest home
festival. Ten months after the arrival of the
Pilgrims, after their scant harvest was gathered
in. Governor Bradford sent out four men ION
fowling expedition that for their Thanksgiving
dinner they might have more dainty materials
than ordinary, and after special manner be
able to rejoice together" When the hunters
returned, successful, the pioneers sat down to
their first Thanksgiving dinner in the new world
Nor was the spread for themselves alone. Mas
sasoit, Sycamore of the Wompanoags, and nine
ty Of his warriors. were present and participant
ed in the festivities In this manner was the
festival of THANKSGIVING instituted in this coun-
try. It may be we'll to state that the turkey
formed an important part of this first Thanks
giving feast as it does to-day.
Queen Elizabeth, on the defeat of the Span
ish armada, ordered day Of praise and thanks
giving and again in 1905, sixteen years before
the landing of the PILGRIMS, day of thanksgiv..
ing was ordered In England, on the discovery or
the gunpowder plot, and Guy Fawkes day con-
tnues to be legal holiday IL England.
The Puritan institution of the day did not
mean yearly but only an occasional observance
of the day, and after the colonies became more
thickIy settled. and with a mixed population.
Thanksgiving days became of exceedingly rare
observance
Thanksgiving day, as now observed, was given
to this Nation by Abraham Lincoln. During our
civil war there came period of disaster to the
Union arms Fasts were appointed and OBJ
served. Victories followed. An autumn of
bountiful harvest brought the promise of better
days. Then il was that President Lincoln issued
a proclamation recommending special thanks
giving. The next year, 1868, blessed
again with victories and bountiful harvests.
This time proclamation was issued for special
Thanksgiving. and also for a national annual
thanksgiving in November. Since that time the
observance of harvest feast has become
nual and national CUSTOM proclamation being
issued each year by the President, as Well as by
the Governors Of the States.
LEGAL PAPERS.
TO the Editor of the Indianapolis Journals
Are notes and papers signed upon Thanksgiving
day binding2 READER
WAvELAND, Ind.
Yes. There is nothing in the statutes relating
to holidays except Section 5517, which says as to
| commercial paper: The following days to witt The
| stday OF the week, commonly called Sundays the
| 1st day of January. commonly called New Years
DAY; the Fourth of July, the 18th day of December
commonly called Christmas day, and any day
| appointed or recommended by the President of
| the United States or the Governor of the State
| of Indiana as day of public fast or thankssiv
| ing shall be holidays within the State of Indiana
| for all purposes of presenting for payment or
acceptance for the maturity and protest and Civ
ing notice for the dishonor Of bills of exchange,
bank checks, promissory notes or other nego-
table or commercial paper and all notes, drafts
| falling due or maturing cit r of said holi-
days shall be deemed as having natured on the
day previous.
PHOTOGRAPHER.
To the Editor Of the INDIANAPOLIS Journals
What wages can photographer command who
write from 125 to $50 words minute2 To whom
should he apply for positions Acc.
LADOGA.
There's ademand in certain lines of business for
shorthand writer's, but they must be able to do
type writer work as we'll. The wages run from
$40 to $50 a week in this city. Cannot tell you
to whom to apply for position. Advertise.
GERRYMANDER.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
1. What is the derivation of the word gerrymander
z. Was Indiana gerrymandered more than once!
LOGANSPoRT, Ind. J.HB.N.
l. From Elbridge Gerry, sisner of the Dec
laration, and in 1912 elected Vice president of
the United States. 2. Yes; but the last greatly
exceeded all previous iniauites in that direction.
ORDERING FOOD AT HOTEL.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
How should one order food at hotel table-the
whole meal at once course at timer
Cry VERY GREEN.
1t is usual in the West to order the whole out
fit, with the exception of dessert at once and it
is brought by courses. Some places how
ever, you order one course at time.
ADAH ISAACS MENKEN.
To the Editor OF the indianapolis Journals
What Adah Isaacs Menken's maiden name?
CITY, INQUIRER
Adah Isaacs. Among her husbands were Men
ken, John G. Heenan and Newell, better known
as Orpheus c. Kerr.
BISMARCK AND HURON.
To the Editor of the indianapolis Journal:
You say Hu:on is the capital Of Dakota I wish to
inform your readers that Bismarck is the capital of
Dakota Territory. Huron is the proposed capital of
the southern half if admitted as State
CLARK D. Il. H w GARY