The Daily Tombstone., 1886-12-03
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 29,. 1886

the shelter of their homes, excepting those who were called out by necessi
 ty. The departments and most placet ol business were closed, aud the streets wore deserted and decidedly uninviting aspecting aspect.
 It had been decided at the Whit HOuss, that as the repairs and i'm provements upon the country resi- dencs at "Oak View" had beeH com pleted, tha. the president and pSrty of his select friends should eat their thanksgiving dinner there, but the plan had to be abandoned on account ot the weather, and MT. Cleveland spent his time at the White Houke and was engaged during the greater portion of the day upon his message ts Congress. Mrs. Cleveland spent the day quietly with her mother, and there were EO callers whatever.
 The rain, however, did not in any manner interfere wi.h the annual Thanksgiving dinners at the various orphan asylumS and charitable inSti- tutionE throughout the city. Secre- tary Whitney. manifested his gener- Osity by distributing three hundred turkeys among the clerks and em- plOyees in the Navy Department.
 It has always been the custom to pay tue employees of the House of Representatives their November sala- ries upon the day before ThSnksgiy- ing. This year, however, the rule could not be complied with, ss the law requires that the Speaker should sign the certificates before the ser Keant-At-arms is allowed to make the psymentI. During the recess of Con- gress it has been customary ts for ward the certificates to the Speaker 1t his home, in tiar, 70 that they may be returned to the Capitol before pay day. For the past few days the Speaker has been expected to arrive in the city; therefore the certificates were not forN arded Le him. In order that mono of the clerks should fOregO the enjoyment of . thankss siving turkey through the lack Of funds. the sergeant-at-Arnas made sfAsll advan- ces In some instances to meet the emergency. 95te-=a-=. -,5:sel.
 Of sll1the Thanksgivinge proclAma- tions isrustt by the executives of the different states aud tertiteries, aud copies of which hAve.been. received at ;: :he State Department; that vf Chief Bushyhead, of the Cherokee Indpn Nation. iS considered thp most un:que and original. It reads AsfOllsWs:
 Executive Department, Cherokee
 Nation, 1. T To the Cherokee Peo-
 pie:
 Let us again publicly confess and commemorate the goodness of the Great Spirit, by devoting Une day in thIs year to thanksgiving in unison. It is good custom, and should i'm press upon our minds truth that every one ought to realize more and nl ore, 2s the days Snd hours succeed each other in our short lives. That truth is, that everything we have comes from God; and that every thing is good and will be profitable to us, even as we regard and treat it, for the due observance of our duty to our common Father, and our brothers Therefore; l, W. D. Bushyhead, prin- cipHl chief of the Cherokee Nation, do new appoint ThurDday, tue 25th day of November, 1886, as \ day of general thanksgiving and praise throughout this nation, and recom- mend to all Cherokees to "keep" the said anniversary soberly, gladly, low insly as befts reasonable and ChriSz tian people So. to de. Sh0ulI there be poor or unfortunate in any neigh bOrhOsd forget and neglect them not. Our system of society and govern ment will not allow of excessive and individual wealth, nor of its sure at tendant-excessive poverty for which let us give special thsnks, and hold fast to that which is good. But what is called accident or misfortune will ever present opportunities to the generous and vigilAnt in well doing to de acts of ~beneYolence. May the next Thanksgiving Day find us, as nation, and as individuals, more vir- tuous, prosperous and happy for hay ing kept this one. In witness where of, 1 hereunto set my hand and aaix the seal of the Cherokee Nation, on