The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-12-01
DEACON VAN Wrinkles DREA II
BY THE REV. GKo. II. HUBBARD.

Deacon Van Wrinkle was proud Of his
pedigree. He delighted to talk of the
old Van Wrinkle family in Holland, and
pointed with satisfaction to various
characteristics in the children which,
he said, indicated their Dutch ancestry.
Again and again in the long winter
evenings he would take down a we'll
worn copy of IrviDg's Sketch Book"
and read the story of Rip Van Wrinkle,
and none of the family ever seemed
to tire of hearing it,
Not long since, however, the deacon
was seriously startled not to say grieved.
by rumor that his famous ancestor
had found a formidable rival in the per-
son of one Julian West, whose story
had just been placed before the public.
Filled with jealousy, not a wicked,
worldly jealously but amid and righte-
Gus jealousy becoming to an orthodox
deacon, he determined at the first OPP
portunity to purchase copy Of Look
ing Backward to see if it was any
thing more than weak imitation of the
old story of Rip Van Wrinkles sleep.
He happened to find it on the day be-
fore Thanksgiving Day, and brought it
home to read in the evening.
At the suppertable a conversation
turned on the plans for the next day.
Heretofore it had been the custom for
the Van Wrinkle family to attend church
on Thanksgiving Day, for they were
somewhat conservative in their ideas.
as became a family with so long a pedi-
gree. This year, however, a revolution
seemed imminent. The younger mem
beers of the family pleaded for change.
They couldn't see the use of going to
church to hear political or historical
sermon. There would be only few
there, and the service would be dull.
Besides, they really ought to stay at
home to prepare for the grand family
gathering of Van Wrinkles that would
be with them TO take dinner. Finally
IL was decided that the church service
should be given up, and the whole force
Of the family should be concentrated
on the dinner.
Immediately after supper the deacon
sat down to read his new book, and SO
absorbed did he become that, notwith-
standing sundry admonitions from Mrs.
Van Winkle, he refused to retire till he
had finished the very last page. Then,
hastily closing the book, he went to
bed and quickly fell asleep. AS re-
suit of his unusual mental exertion of
the evening he began to dream.
1t was Thanksgiving Day but he was
not in the old house. His surroundings
were strange. He was in well-fur-
nished parlor, and opposite to him sat
pleasant looking CID gentleman,
whom ne at once recognized as Or.
Leete. With as little surprise as dream
ers usually feel, he realized that he,
too, had dropped into the twentieth
century. and he determined to make
some Investigations on his own ac-
count.
With wha. seemed quite a natural
transition from preceding conversation
he said:. by the way, Doctor, as this Is
Thanksgiving Day, shall we go to
church. as has always been the custom
in my family"
The doctor looked at him thought
fully, and replied; You speak Ct
something that few would understand
at the present day. remember, how
ever, having read about it in history.
This is one Of our public holidays but
we do not call it Thanksgiving Day,
although it takes the place of that an
cient festival. We call it Seclal Day.
We attribute all the blessings that we
enjoy not TO a mythical being called
God. but to our refined and perfected
social system. Hence we devote Tue
day to Teasing aud pleasure III honor
of our social system"
This is indeed a great change from
the old idea, - said the deacon. How
did it come about? Were there not very
many who protested when the change
was NADER"
"Oh no. replied DR.. Leete. THE
change was 50 gradual that it would be
hard to say just when it took place. In
fact, it was but the expression OF a
gradual development in public thought
aud feeling. If l mistake not, you your
self saw some of the beginnings OF the
movement. Do you not remember how
few people used to attend church on
Thanksgiving Day. Half a dozen
churches, by uniting, could not secure
as large an audience as would be found
in any one of the churches on the Sab
bath. These gatherings grew smaller
each succeeding year until at length
they were wholly abandoned.
THE next step was the inevitable
decay Of the sense of gratitude in the
heart. Such emotions unexpressed soon
cease to exist. All the while the pop
ular mind was developing, and men
began TO see the folly OF looking for
help and blessing to an external ana
m Mysterious power utterly beyond their
ken. 1t gradually dawned upon them
that the secret OF all good or evil lies IN
the makeup of society. Given cor
rect social system, and all evil will dis
appear as if by magic. Viewed III its
true light, sin is atavism. suffering is
error, and gratitude is superstition.
Social reforms have saved the world
they have regenerated humanity. How
foolish, then, to talk OF gratitude TO