Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1888-11-08
Ancient Thanksgiving
Days.
BY ALICE GOLDSMITH.


tabernscles, or feast of ingathering at
the end of the year, Its history in
America begins as early as 1921. The
occasional observance of such a day,
formally recommended by the civil
authorities, was not unusual in Europe
at an earlier date. In Holland the
first anniversary of the deliverance of
the city of Leyden from the siege,
October 3, 1875, was kept as a relig-
1ous festival of thanksgiving and
praise. In the English church service,
the fifth of November is so celebrated,
in commemoration of the discovery of
the gunpowder plot.
One of the most remarkable thanks
giving customs on record prevailed in
Southampton and Easthampton, Long
Island. Montauk Point, which con-
sists of 5000 acres, was owned by
numerous proprietors in these towns,
and used as common pasturage for
stock. The time of driving the herds
home to winter was fixed at a meeting
by the town council, 'and it came,
says the historian, to be rule from
the period beyond which the memory
of man runneth not, that the Thursday
of the week following the return of
the cattle from Montauk should be
observed as day of thanksgiving
At an early period of New England
history, certain periods of prosperity
were often made the occasions of pub
lie thanksgivings, or feasts, and often
day of feasting and prayer was
turned into day of thanksgiving by
what seemed an immediate answer to
their prayers. Perhaps, to recall to
our minds that first Thanksgiving of
The Pilgrim Fathers may put US to the
blush. Often on this day have I heard
such remarks as II have no thanks to
give; have nothing for which to be
thankful" from lips that 1t would
seem might have had life's work in
framing words of praise and gratitude.
so blessed were they in the health of
themselves and their dear ones, while
for some fancied trouble this great
good was quite overlooked.
Of the l02 emigrants who had land
ed on the bleak and forbidding coast
of Cape Cod Bay, in the winter of
1920, almost half had died by the fol-
lowing winter; while the sufferings of
the remainder from the severe weather
and from destitution, cannot be i'm
agined b. us of the present day, in our
comfortable and well-warmed houses
Remember that these brave people
were not Injured to hardships. Among
them were gentle and delicately
nurtured men and women.
Two rows of huts were laid out and
staked-the homes of nineteen families
and within the first year they had to
make seven times more graves for the
dead than habitations for the living
1t was during this winter that Rose,
the sweet wife of the brave and impul
sive Captain Standish, died Still, In
spite of all sufferings and hardships,
the winter of 1921 found them with so
much for which to be grateful that
they had to appoint AN especial day
on which to give especial thanks for
their mercies.'
In letter dated December II.
1921, Edward Winslow, writing to a
friend in England, says: The pru-
dence and industry of the few not
disabled have been SO greatly blessed
as to call forth the thankfulness of the
favored people in a special manner.
You shall understand that in this lit
tie time that a few of US have been
here we have built seven dwelling
houses, and four for the use of the
plantation, and have made prepara-
tions for divers others. We set last
spring some twenty acres of barley
and peas, and, according to the man.
ner of the Indians, manured our
ground with herrlngs, or rather shads,
which we have in great abundance,
and take with great ease at our doors.
Their descendants. more wise in
their days and generation, have found
a better use for these 'shads, and by
the use of cotton seed oil turn them
into French sardines, packed in pure
olive OIL Such is the progress of
civilization.
Our barley did prove well, and,
God be praised, we had good in
crease of Indian corn, but our peas
were not worth the gathering, for we
feared they we're too late sown. Our
heaviest being gotten in, our Governor
Bradford sent four men out towling
that we might, after special manner,
rejoice together after we had the fruit
of our labor. They four killed as
much in one day as with a little help
beside served our company for week.
At that time among other recreations
we exercised our arms, many of the
Indians coming among u.s. and among
the rest their greatest king, Massasoyt,
with some ninety men. whom for three
days we entertained and feasted, and
they went out and killed FIVE deer,
which they brought to the plantation.
Thus passed the first Thanksgiving
Day in New England--a feast Of veni.
son and wild fowl Donhtless amonu