davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
IN ANCIENT TIMES.
There was a Feast OF Thanksgiving
From Time Immemoriai.

Thanksgiving Day is not an Ameri-
can idea. Ages and ages ago in EN-
pires long since fallen one day of each
year was set apart for thanksgiving to
the Creator. n this country it was
not observed in the West and South
It'd after the war, but in New England
1t may be said TO date from the middle
of the seventeenth century. Over
5000 years ago Moses instructed the
Isrealites TO keep a feast after they got
tablished in the Holy Land. They
called it the feast of the T. bernacle,
and for eight days, following the close
of the harvest, they dwell in booths
made chiefly of green boughs, and
toasted on corn, wine, oil and fruits
In the course Of time splendid ritual
for the feast was adopted. including
much singing in responsive choruses
Some what later the Greeks held a
nine days feast OF similar character
IN which slaves were allowed to take
part, and all criminals except muir
derers. The Romans had a similar
feast in honor of Ceres, goddess of
grain.
The Saxons had Harvest Home, :"
and after them the English which fes-
trial was observed IN sort of way in
some of the American colonies.
In the year 1921 the Pilgrim fathers
tried 10 celebrate, but it was rather n
gloomy affair. In 1923 ship loaded
with provisions failed TO arrive and
Gov. Bradford appointed day of hui
initiation, fasting and prayer. but the
expected ship arrived and so they made
it day of Thanksgiving.
Ninety Indians, under Chief Massa
soft, took part. In 1881 the Puritans
ran out of provisions, and Feb. 9 was
named as day of fasting and prayer.
As in the other case. the ship arrived,
and they mad feast inste ad. June Is,
1887, there was a general service in all
churches of New England, to give
thanks for the great victory at Fort
Mystic over the Pequots, and on the
18th of October following general
service and feast, in honor of peace
and the settling of some religious diff
ferences.
Forty years later Gov Andres
ordered the people to give thanks on
the first day of December; but they
hated Andres and didn't thank worth
a cent. Several persons were arrested
for treating the proclamation with
contempt, but this struck the home
authorities as rather ludicrous, and his
conduct was disapproved.
Thereafter Thanksgiving was pretty
generally observed in all England and
the States settled by her, the governor
naming the day.
George Washington recommended to
Congress the naming of a National day
in 1889, for the adoption of the consti-
stitution. 1t was done and the day
was generally observed. In 1895 the
proceeding was repeated. James
Madison appears to have issued the
first Presidential proclamation on the
subject, in 1918, in honor of the return
of peace. Forty-eight years passed be-
fore President Lincoln issued the Sec
ond one, in 1868. Since then every
President has followed the custom and
the day is Nationally observed at last.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

Mrs. Heath Joys remarkably good
health for one so aged. Her sense of
sight is nearly gone; she can but dis
Germ daylight from darkness. Her
memory of events that transplred
nearly century ago Is excellent, of
events of the present age not as good.
She gets about the house by the aid of
two canes. Her appetite evidently
does not fail her, as she has not missed
a meal in over eight years. She lived
continuously with her husband, in the
house which he built. sixty years, until
his death, which occurred in 1869.
After that she lived with her sons and
one of her grandchildren until July O.,
1854. when she made the residence of
Justice of the Peace David n. Todd her
home. There she still lives and large
crowds visit the place once year to
remind the old lady that she has not
been forgotten in her declining years.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
THE DAY IN BIG CITIES.
Thanksgiving Day as Observed BY
SciOOs of Wealth. A

Thanksgiving day in large cities is
poor and needy.
- On this day of all others do the rich
let loose their pocket-strings. That is
their way of returning thanks.
In New York the members of wealthy
and charitably disposed families go
about the highways and byways, leaV-
ing little with this poor family and
little with that one. In this way all
the poor are given a material reason
to also join in the Than ksgiving.
The offerings generally consist of
money. The distribution of clothing
and food generally takes place on
Thanksgiving eve.
OF course the money finds it's way
into the Golfers of the saloon oftener
than that of the grocer.
But what matter IT to the giver? He
or she has done a kindly act
The amount distributed among the
poor by the rich OF New York Thanks
giving Day is enormous The Wander
bits never give less than $4,000. Tho
Goulds give like amount The AS
tors often give as much as $4,000.
Perhaps the total amount would run
into the millions.
Chicago niillionaires always see that
the poor within the city's gates are
well cared for on the National Thanks
giving Day.
Statesmen and politicians seldom
forget the needy on this day. Prob
ably the most liberal figure in political
life is Gen. Alger of Michigan. He
manages to spend between $50, 900 and
100000 year among the poor of De-
troit and other cities. The great por-
ton of this is distributed on Thanks
giving Day.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

earth will be ours for all eternity.
Weep not, dear, that go first
Burton Laird felt as he never felt
before. He saw the sun of the young
life sinking faster than that which
had an hour before burnt low upon
She horizon of the New World, and he
would be left in darkness forever
more.
"Pity u.s." he cried in anguish
that seemed to tear his soul from
within. Speak not of grief till you
have seen the tears of war-like men.
At that instant, against the dark
horizon of the sky, sweeping down
from the bosom of the seething ocean,
came the ship so long expected.
From the rocks beyond, the lookout
had already seen it. His shout arose
in the distance.
THE ship"
The ship"
THE ship Is here
The glad tidings swept down the hill
side and along the valley.
Then from the church rushed al Che
worshipers.
Weak voiced utterings of than .iv-
ing soon resounded.
Burton Laird lifted his wife that she
might see the glad sight the ocean pre-
scented.
Thank heaven" she cried; ''you
will live. Many will be saved, but /
must die"
Die" cried her husband in awful
anguish. mo, it must not be; aid is
at hand"
Too late for me-" the voice was
weaker; but mourn not at that. /
will tell you how it is: Fathers life is
far more valuable than mine, and for
four days have given him my share
of food instead of his But for that
he would now be gone, and they look
TO him for aid and comfort in their
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

and -" What she would have
said he did not hear then. The turn
events had taken was too much for
him and he sank into a swoon, from
which he was revived an hour or two
later.
In the meantime Maud Leslie had
returned to her home and told the
story of an innocent mans sufferings.
Rev. DIR. Leslie was a just and. good
man. He became deeply interested in
his daughters story. He, too, belize ed
George Lang innocent. But what
could he do? 1t would probably take
years to prove Lang guiltless in the
eyes of the law.
Before he assembled the pulpit that
day he had decided what TO do.
Never before was such thrilling
sermon preached in st. James. After
referring to the day, the good man
told of two young men in their
early morning of life. who loved the
same girl; of how one set fire to a
prison. He told of the temporary
triumph of the conspirator, but said
that the day for retribution was
coming.
The sermon created n terrible sensa-
ton. 1t was published in the leading
papers the next day and verybody
wanted to know who the principals
were.
Burt Kergan had long since married
Violet West She had long ago dis
missed Lang from her memory. The
day following Thanksgiving she picked
up the morning paper. The taring
headlines over DR.. Leslie's sermon
first attracted her attention. She read
down the column. 1t became quite
plain to her. Her husband was guilty
of an awful crime She sank back,
and her cries for help soon brought
him TO her side. She was revived, but
it was only of short duration.
what does it mean?' her husband
asked, as she opened her eyes. What
has happened"
Read and she handed him the
paper.
She watched the hot flush in his
face as he read between the lines.
He was guilty; she knew it now.
''You are guilty; don't deny it now"
She fell back TO rise no more in life.
Violet Kergan, a victim of her hus-
bands plot, was dead.
"Yes,I am guilty the husband said,
bending over the PROSTATE form.
Just then two officers, who had been
admitted, stepped into the room.
Burt Kergan raised his eyes. His
cowardly heart weakened lie fell
pierced to the heart with the exposure
of his crime.
81 am guilty" were his last words.
The same day George Lang was re-
leased from prison. 1t was made an
occasion of public rejoicing, in which
no one more heartily joined than
Maude Leslie.
A year afterwards and when the
churchbells were tolling the glad tld.
ings of Thanksgiving, Mrs. Lang took
advantage of the occasion to ask for
giveness for liberty she had once
taken.
Then she told how she had stood at
his cell door n year before and listened
TO his own confession of innocence.
"And that is how you knew was In.
nocent. Maud you are forgiven. Lis.
ten TO the bells. Let us go. We have
much TO be thankful for"
And so it was all their lives.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

ats rather hard on me- he muir
mered as he rolled back into his iron
couch
The church bells were tolling with
out. Foot beats were heard in the
streets below.
They're all going to church to give
thanks. Yes, this is Thanksgiving.
Oh, that ! had something to be thank
ful for. Here all these years suffering
for Burt Kergan's crime. | know that
it was he who fired Cookies store
so that / would be put
must suffer. The truth will never
come out now. | will never even tell
that | suspect it, y
The convict's brows became knitted.
He would have sunk into deeper
sleep but for voice at the cell door
1t was one of those gentle voices, so
seldom heard in the corridor of place
of penal servitude.
Maude Leslie. the parsons lovely
daughter, was making the round as
was her custom on the morning of
great feasts. She generally brought
some good things and was looked upon
as a minIstering angel by hardened
convicts.
81 had been dreaming and thought I
had nothing to be thankful for. but
you are here. I'm so glad you have
come. Your presence is n light into
darkened life that has no future
hopes"
The other hung her head. The con-
vict's words had touched her tenderest
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

married Edward Loves daughter a
month previously. She was beauti.
fui young woman of 20; he a sedate
lieutenant in Her Majesty's army.
AS the suns last beams had faded
beyond the Western horizon, prayer
full people wendell their way TO the
quiet little chapel on the hillside.
Edward Love was too i'll TO go. At
his bedside were Alice and Burton
Laird.
$50, dear children" said the old
man, and pray for relief, for it is
well to do so.
And so ii seemed TO both. They bent
and kissed him with that tender atfec-
ton only born of poverty and parental
ties, and then left him. They knelt
near the quaint altar and watched
the pale lips of the good man utter
holy words-words family heard by
the listeners
The voice grew faint ana weaker, as
that of starving men must.
Both tried to sing, but the melody of
their murmurs died away under the
roof.
Burton Laird thought his wife
leaned more heavily on his shoulder.
Then her voice was silent. Her face
whitened under the dim light from the
pulpit. Her eyes put on a dying look.
She sighed and ceased to speak.
With gasp she fell forward
on his breast. He lifted her
into his arms as if she was
q babe and carried her out into the
open air.
There was gust of sharp wind
which quickly revived her.
She opened her eyes
Until now Burton Laird had been
strong. AS he noted the pallor of her
face his anguish overwhelmed him.
He called aloud to Heaven to spare
the wife of his bosom
She heard him.
1--WE have loved each other WE'LL"
she murmured, land il we must part
here it will only be to meet in that
happy, happy land, where there is
neither grief nor suffering. The
Heaven for which we have sacrificed
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
A Thanksgiving Menu.

oysters on half she'll.
PURGE of pheasant, consomme royale
Small game patties. Broiled Black
Bass. steward sauce. Turkey
and cranberry sauce.
Prime RIBS of beef Sugar corn.
Mashed potatoes. Sweetbreads.
Lardet. Escallopped Oysters.
Green peas. Pineapple Sherbet.
Saddle OF venison on jelly. EedheaG
duck
Chicken salad
Mince and pumpkin pie. Plum pud.
ding.
Catawba Jelly. Roquefort and Edam
cheese.
Coffee.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
Room an Westminster Abbey.

There is "com Portable room in West
minister Abbey Tor forty or fifty mo I
permanent occupants This item. from
the report Of a commission appointed
by the government suggests that great
men would Go well 10 die early ant
avoid thc rush.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
Before Thanksgiving.

Rev. Johnsing Hold on thar Mig
gah: what's you doing in ms turkey
roost dis hour Of night}
Neighbor Simpkins ! wis iis gwine
ter fattcn dat old gobbler up for your
Thanksgiving dinnan.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
Thanksgiving as the JAIL.

Thanksgiving Dav Visitor-And
what are you in for my good man?
ColOred Prisoner-No thing.
Nisitor-For nothing.
Colored Prisoner-Yes. sab: tried
10 get turkey for last Thanksgiving
Day, but got nothing. See?
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
NothIn' On at All.

Mamma, here's a question for you
IL has always puzzled me-"
Said our little Alice with
Look OF deep perpleNity.
How Is IL that when am dressed I
Wear my hat, and frock. and shawl;
And when the turkeys dressed for MS
She's got nO3hin' ON at allf"
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27

There is valuable floating wreck
loose on the Atlantic. IL has n cargo
Of mahogany lumber and was aban-
doLed March 81. Since then il has
drIfted 10, 600 miles and was last seen
Aug. 3.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27


more"
George l. n n g
10 o k e q % &C k
through the ff-
teen years he had
passed behind the
grim walls Of
pr i $ o n II e
thought of the
twenty years he
had still to serve
b e fore society
would be salts
fed.
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
MAN AND WOMAN.
Story OF the Firs, rhank.y,v,rr
TE II f NOVEMBER

sun was sinking in
the Western skies.
Another day had
gone and no news
from t h g S h / p.
With darkness, a
pail of gloom set
tied over the little
b an d of settlers.
There was so much
need that the food
had I o b e appor-
toned.
Burton laird had
Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-11-27
DIR. LESLIE'S SERMON.
a Tbanksgivin' Day story.

WENTY YEARS
,,,o.,p
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20
II. O. BLAK s. 90.
x,6 WEST FULTON STREET
YOU WANT THE
BEST FURNACE ON e: ( EARTH
WPoNI OF ECONOMY DURABILITY AND GREATEST HEATING CAPACITY

KP0MI OF ECONOMY DURABILITY AND GREATEST HEALING CAPACITY
by Heating
come and see the GILT EDGE The Func may /.
shown throughout Long enables steer clear Of the many
Themselves We parties this city who nng 10 to Of coal
heat successfully We Warrant
Perfect Satisfaction We have for
taken We onThird in fuel and Furnaces
including
Windows, Gasoline and OlSto
j. G. BI4AKEIY CO.. w. FULTON-sT.
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20
COMFORTABLES.


t225 sBd 500
Elegant
Special Inducements
aud f4so.
Also Complete Line coaPoRrABLEs $3.50. $500
sl7oo and saas.
The
repsrtr ss tie IA loves led
Dusfsb asd sessoashls
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20

We
n Unlimited supply
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20

Ladies Seamless Wool Hose full length ribbed tops regular
value % cents, will be sold At ~ cents
Ladies' Fast Black. Fleece Lined Hose regular value. A.
cents at ~ cent?.
Ladiee' Grey Wool Hose regular value
at % cents.
Ladies' Colored. Fleece Lined Hose, worth 40 cents
- cents. fh
LADIES' Fine Cashmere Hose reduced fro rs cents to
IS 5
Boys Heavy Black Wool Hose 81 81 Thes
and desirable and undoubtedly the best goods
the market foe Il cents.
Chdren's Colored Black Wool Hose uzes to 81 1t l6
censs for all slzes regular value Is cents.
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20

coo DOZ.
Ie6 DOZ.
1ee Doz.
80 Doz.
20 Doz-
$50 Doz.
1875 DOz.
Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-20

100 DOZ.
20 DOZ.
40 DOZ.
The Delta independent., 1891-05-21
italian Immigration.

A committee of fifty was, not along ago,
appointed in New Orleans to assist the
authorities in enforcing the law and pro.
tecting life. The organization has just made
report to the city council. II finds that
the Malta society does actually exist in the
Crescent City. that its purposes are intim-
idation and extortion and that it hesitates
not at assassination to effect its ends. Its
operations are conductsi IN so perfect secrecy
aud with 80 deft and subtle craft that detee-
ton is impossible. Even the victims, from
some mysterious motive Of terror or super.
stition, refuse to disclose the names or
identity of their slayers.
In the emergency thus created the COM
mittee recommends as the only remedy the
absolute prohibition of immigration from
Sicily aad lower italy. This prohibition,
to be efectunl, would need to he made
National and to be enforced by the National
power and authority. The matter will un-
doubtedly he brought before congress next
winter. The members, in dealing with it,
should be Influenced not at all by sectional
or partisan feeling.
The danger from which protection lis
sought is national. The Mafas are more
menacing and do greater harm In New
Orleans than in other cities only because
they are proporti"n"tely more numerous
there. They may become equally dangerous
in New York, Boston, Chicago or San Fran
cisco.
The peril is one against which the ordinary
remidies are in vain. There eau be 10 sure
protection against the stealthy approach of
the assassin. There can he no safeguard
against. his secret methods. Only the
radical remedy can be made sfiective. And
that suggested by the New Orleans commit
tee seems to be the only practical one
Colorado Sun.
The Delta independent., 1891-05-21
-------
An Electrical Wedding.

At a wedding reported in Baltimore, a few
days ago, no sooner had the company been
comfortably seated than the room burst into
food of light from numerous varicolored
incandescent electric lamps hidden among
the decorations. The entrance of the bride
and bridegroom was welcomed nv the auto
matte ringing of electric bells and the play.
ing of electrial musical Instruments. After
the first cource, the room was plunged into
semi darkness, when suddenly. from the flo.
raj decorations upon the table, there glowei
tiny electric lamps. Not only the flowers.
but the interior of the translucent vaces in
which some of them were gathered. scintil.
lated with flashes of light. After a while
miniture electric lamp, which in some nuex.
plaineb manner had attached itself to the
brides hair, was seen to glow with dazzling
brightness. A toast having Leen given, two
serpents slowly uncoiled themselves and is.
sued from the wine bottle that stood beside
the bridal couple. Cigars aud coffee were
served, and the cigars were lighted by an
electric lighter, while the coffee was prepar.
ell in full view of the company by Nh electri-
cal heater. The speeches were literally
applauded by an electrical kettledrum placed
under the table. AS the company dispersed
the electric curr. mt set off novel pyrotech-
nio display, amid the crimson glare Of which
the festivities endeed.
The Delta independent., 1891-05-21
Potato GrO0fug.

The potato has come to he one oi the lead
ing agricultural products Of the State, and
all facts bearing upon its cultivation must be
of interest to our readers. The authorities
of the State Experiment Station made seine
tests last year, the result of which they sum.
marize in bulletin recently issued. The
conclusion arrived at are as follows:
l. The depth of planting did not material.
ly affect the total yield of potatoes.
2. Potatoes planted near the surface con-
tained 25.l per cent. more starch than those
planted deeper, and were, therefore, worth
33.4 per cent. more for foed, while being at
the same time more palntable.
3. Shallow tilla2e and even no tillage
were more effective than deep tillage.
4. The yield of potatoes decreased after
passing eight inches apart as the distance
between the hills Increased; the yield de.
creased when planned nearer than eigh,
inches.
8. Increasing the distance between row,
did MT appear to decrease the yield. Thi,
fact il probably due to the decreased ratio o
root outing aud might not hold true for
system Of tillage that does not involve roo
cutting.
8. Close planting resulted in an increase o
moisture aud In q decrease OF starch o
potatoes amounting to per cent.
The Delta independent., 1891-05-21
The chixnec.o ship Railway.

As the ship railway from the Bay of Fundy
to the Gulf of st. Lawrence approaches
completion the eyes of the world are more
and more centered on it. This great enter
prise promises to be successful. The Isthmus
rf Chignecto is seventeen miles across If
ships eau be successfully lifted upon car
at Amherst, in the Bay of Fundy, and con-
veyed across to Tidnish, N. b.. on the Gulf
of st. Lawrence. they will not only be saved
stormy voyage of 900 miles around Nova
Scotia coast, but will demonstrate that ship
railways are practicable,
Sir Benjiman Baker, one Of the Chignecto
engineers, writing of the railway in the
nineteenth century, says that ship railway
instead Of ship canal will be the true solu-
tion of the pr-blem of transit across the 18TH
mus between North and South America. He
says there are four essentials to the success of
the ship railway: ships must be steaded
with blocking upon cradle which will car.
ry them over the rails; the rails and sleepers
must he lifted ont Of water to a level with the
railroad; the rails and sleepers must be
strong enough to support the heavy burden.
and the locomotives must be strong enough to
draw the lsa,i-in some cases 5000 tons.
Each Of these requirements has been met
separately and fully tested, according to Sir
Benjamin, and it now only remains to put
the finishing stroke and ring them in all to-
gether. In the course OF n few months this
will be done, and we shalt know whether the
first ship railway of modern time is a success
or failure. The lifting is to be accomplished
by hydraulic power. Each ship will be
hauled by two engines, each capable Of draw
ing 1000 tons. The railway will consist of
a double line of tracks, the two lines having
the space between them five feet wider than
usual. The steel rails weighs Ito pounds to
the yard.