Telegram-herald., 1889-11-28
THANKSGIVING DAY.
The Origin snd History OF the Day
Of Thanks.
IA fhis CoaStry Al Properly Dates froin
the faii ~ ths lea isss. but the
Custona j. NsTy Old Ons Aud
t.0es H2y Bsck.

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evolution Of a long line of predecessors.
both pagan and Christian. Il dates as
al annual national holiday from the fsL
Of 1853. IA that year President Lincoln
sent message 70 congress recommend
ing the observance Of = national day Of
thanksgiving, not only on account Of the
victories whieh had followed the Union
arms, bat also for the plentiful harvest.
Since then the custom has taken deep
root IN many parts OF the United States
where II did not previously exist Now
il stands unique in history as a day on
which a great nation, without respect 10
political party or religious creed. ae-
knowledses with thankfulness the con
tinued prosperity which God has been
pleased 70 shower upon il.
Over 5000 years ago the Isfaelites
wandering in the desert were instructed
by Moses 10 observe a holiday similar in
character to the modern American
Thanksgiving day, when they came to
the Promised Land. II was called the
Feast Of the Tabernacles and took place
about the end of harvest time.
Later in the worlds history feast
answering the same purpose was held by
the ancient Greeks in honor of Demeter,
the deity who owned the earth in their
eyes The rallying point for this feast,
which lasted nine days, was at Athens.
All except murderers and barbarians
took part in il.
About the same time of year the Ro-
mans held feast IN honor of the god
dess Ceres, who, though Of feminine
gender, seems to have presided over their
department Of agriculture. The Romans
had no turkeys, and could not, Of course,
kill and eat the sacred geese, but man
aged TO get along very well on fat capons
and Falernian wine for all that.
More direct in the line of ancestry of
the American Thanksgiving day was the
Saxon harvest home. Ii began rs soon
as the crops were saved and lasted till
the moon was at its full. Barbecues of
oxen roasted whole. home brewed ale,
bOnfires and dancing made up a pro
gramme not to be sneezed at even by
Nineteenth century folk. But this feast
was rather one held by individual fam
lies than the realm of England as a whole.
The first Thanksgiving held on Amer
lean soil was by the Pilgrim Fathers, in
the year 1921, shortly after they landed
at Plymouth rock. 1t was not very much
of thanksgiving, for they did not feel
that they had very much to be thankful
for. but was rather revival Of the Eng
lisb harvest home. Matters were about
the same in 1922, and with much about
the same result in giving thanks. In
1923, however, an expected ship failed to
arrive with provisions when they were
likely to be most wanted, and the pros
poets of famine were so bright that Gov
Bradford, acting in the undoubted exer-
else of his prerogative, ordered day to
be set apart for fasting, humiliation and
prayer.
But before the day appointed had
come, provisions turned up all right, and
the day was turned into one of thanks
giving. Mr.. WiDslow, one of the pill
grims, in letter gives an interesting ac-
count of this memorable day in Ameri-
can history. The celebration was held
with ''glory, honor and praise, with all
thankfulness to our good God which
deals so graciously with u.s." Ninety In
dians, headed by King Massasoit, ar
rived at the settlement in the nick OF
time and shared in the feast. This cele-
bration was somewhat previous, for not
long after the pilgrims were down to
plain Holsters without bread, and spring
water, which, - said Governor Bradford,
somewhat impaired the freshness of
cur complexions. As well it might.
The Puritan settlers at Nantasket Jared
little better than the Pilgrims some years
later. On Feb. 0, 1881, provisions had
reached a vanishing point. The last
flour in the colony was baking in Gov
ernOr Winthrop's oven. 1t was the day
appointed for 4 public fast. At the last
moment the ship Lyon was sighted. The
fast was Immediately changed into a
feast. This is generally held as the first
regular Thanksgiving day in New Eng
land.
After this date Thanksgiving were
held every now and then. rs the occasion
for them arose. A general day of thanks
giving was held in al the churches in
New England on June -. 1857. to cele-
brate the signal victory over the Pequot
Indians at Fort Mystic. The success Of
the synod in settling the religious creed
OF all New England was also celebrated
in q special thanksgiving on Oct. 70 Of
the same year.
Forty years later Governor Andres at
tempted 20 make the New England colo
nists give thanks in obedience % his COM
mands. lie appointed the first day of
December, 1897. as a day of thanksgiv-
ing. People were about tired Of TIE GOV
ernor's arbitrary ways by this time. and
nobody thanked worth a cent. Several
Of those who would not dance to Gov
ernor Andres piping were hauled before
the courts 10 answer for their contempt.
One sturdy old Puritan answered that
"he was above tho observation of days
and times"
This was not the last of the high
handed governors attempts - make the
colonists give thanks for things they
didn't want When James IT eXpeC te1
an heir in direct succession 90 the LrE-
fish throne the stubborn Pui-ans oi Nev
England were told 70 he thanfui on
April is. 1858. that they were % Re ruled
bv race q Catholic kings lh-r
seemed % appreciate the pTosp-~- SD il.-
de that Aug. = in the same vor 0as
also ordained az a dav ~ thanbs1iFia-
~ the governor 70 Commemorafe fae
t.-th = the illfated wandsrer who Vas