The Red Cloud chief., 1890-11-21

Oc, Sno Is 3 gOOU Oeal happier. AnTce
hearts are filed with thankfulness al
every return Of Miss Henderson,
Thanksgiving day.-Yankee Blade.
THANKSGIVING.
Something Of tho Origin and History q
the Day.
OF all our National holidays, We have
only N that is unique. Christmas and
New Years we celebrate in common
with the bulk Of Christendom; Wash
ington's birthday finds its counterpart
in many countries. AMI We are not the
only nation, by long odds. tn at cole
brates an independence day. But 80
far as we know, no nation has day set
apart for tho giving Of thanks for the
mercies and blessings received from the
Giver Of all good.
In other countries there are Thanks
giving days. but they arc celebrated at
irreg ular intervals and owe their origin
to peculiar causes.
Some years ago. England had .
Thanksgiving day over tho recovery Of
the Prince of Wales from . severe ILL
ness, and similar thanksgivings have
been held in oil European countries
In Russia. when the Gar escapes n Of
the numerous attacks on his life. .
Thanksgiving day is appointed to give
thanks; and in Oriental countries it is
usual to appoint days Of thanksgiving
TO celebrate such weighty vents as the
coming Of age OF tho rulers eldest Bon,
the marriage OF his daughter, the birth
of an heir. and SO forth. But these
days have nothing in common with our
Thanksgiving day.
The first Thanksgiving day Of which
We have any record was held in
Plymouth Colony when Governor Brad.
ford was at tho head of affairs.
In the autumn of l62l-the exact date
four men to gather game. SO that tho
whole colony might ''rejoice together"
after they had garuered tho fruit Of
their labors. The following year (l622).
at the same season, after tho abundant
harvest was collected, the cOlOnists ~.
sembled. and, according to an old chron.
icle, "solemnized q day Of thanksgiving
unto the Lord"
At this celebration, according to ira.
dition, Massasoit and his court attended
and Toasted with the whites.
Then Thanksgiving day secms to
have been forgotten until 1881, when 1t
was revived under peculiar circum-
stances. The harvest of the previous
year had been very poor, and during tho
winter provisions Of all kinds were so
scarce that the colony was in actual
danger Of starvation. The I'D Of Feb
ruary was appointed to be observed IS
q fast day. but, before hat day came, .
vessel arrived from Europe. laden with
provisions. Governor Bradford was
quick to take advantage of the changed
state Of affairs. and issued a proclama-
ton changing the day of fast to one Of
feasting. This was the first Thanksgiv.
ing day by regular proclamation.
New Netherland (%afterward New
York; observed Thanksgiving day &C.
~casionally. and Governor Kieft pro-
claimed a public thanksgiving to be
held in February. 1914, on count Of a
victory over the Indians; and again in
l64A. because OF the conclusion Of peace.
There werc occasional thanksgivings
in tho several colonies for the next
hundred years. but no general observ.
nee until the time Of the Revolution.
In those gloomy days, when ono might
suppose that the struggling colonies had
little to be thankful for. the Continental
ing proclamation, from ITS to 1sSa. in
| elusive.
But there vas no fixed date. varying
from IS early as April 8 to as late as
December IL. The later date occurred in
1916. when there were two Thanksgiv.
ing days; the first being on May 10.
Washington. as General of the army,
issued q proclamation for Thanksgiving
by the Continental army on December
IS I'LL, and again ct Valley Forge, May
I, IT'S; and during his Presidential
term he appointed two Thanksgiving
days-November &c, 17s9. and February
IL. l195.
This custom was followed BY suo-
cessive Presidents from time to time.
but President Lincoln was the first
President to issue . Thanksgiving proc
lamation on ~ consecutive yearA
Gradually the State executives fell
into line. % that the custom is now gem
eral in all parts Of the Republic, and
Thanksgiving day is now . legal holi-
day.
The observance OF Thanksgiving. 1t
first . day OF rejoicing. gradually b.
came . religious ceremony. especially
during the Revolutionary period. Then.
with moro prosperous timeA il devel-
oped into . day Of rejoicing and family
reunions, and in New England almost
entirely supplanted Christmaa
At the present day it il = minoe
. Christmas. wherein religious obseev.
ances are combined with sports and
jollity.
The giving Of presents has never ne
vailed ON Thaaksgiving day. but it il
mono the less aday Of pleasant reunions
and family gathezinga We have not
al harvests to b thankful for, but -
al participate In the general prosperity
Of the country. Indeed, It b doubtful
II there b q person. young Or old. Who
can look hack . tHelvemonth and not
go many eveats 70 10 thankful loc.
AsaNationw 10 have very lev Aolidays
and Ne can not aaoea 10 ignore tAooo
Ne have. So TO yoans AL oll ve.Gy
keep ThaAksgiving DAY With al yoar
might return thanks for the hassinRs
Of the past aAA Pray for The klessin9a
Jet 70 cone-W. = Hollea, n 0eaaoo
] DAya