, 1891-11-25
OLYMPIA
Capital Of State Of Washington.
Population $500.
THE GENESIS OF THANKSGIVING.

Since an annual Thanksgiving day ap-
pointed by the president and the governor
of the several states and territories is now
one Of the abiding holidays Of our nation,
its origin and gradual evolution becomes
an interesting question to the general
reader.
The "Feast of Ingatherings" observed
among the ] Jews more than three thousand
years ago, is the earliest formal Thanks
giving known to history, and it is not un-
reasonable to suppose that such national
observances constitute the suggestive
germ Of ali similar occasions that have fol
lowed in their wake. AS popularly under
stood, however, our national Thanksgiving
undoubtedly had its origin among the
early colonists of New England. After
landing in December 1920, the Pilgrims be
gan Immediately to look about for arabic
lands. In the following spring they went
vigorously to work preparing their grounds
for seed. Their summers work was pros
porous and large crops rewarded them in
the fall. Moved by this signal evidence of
Proyidential care, Governor Bradford ap-
giving to Almighty God for his manifold
blessings. AS the day was also to be sig
nalized by feasting and good cheer, he sent
men into the woods for game, in order
that, as the quaint record has ii, the people
''might in more special manner rejoice
together" An abundance of well con-
ditioned wild turkeys were brought in
by the hunters and from this circum-
stance comes the traditional 'sThanksgiv-
ing turkey" among American people to-
day.
But the following years were not all so
prosperous. In 1851 the crops almost wholly
failed, Indian hostiGties had been perpe-
trated and the ranks Of the settlers were
fearfully decimated. Gaunt want and
wholesale massacre by the savages stared
the remaining colonists in the face.
At this critical juncture the governor az
pointed day of humiliation fasting and
prayer, that God might, peradventure, send
deliYerance to the famishing people. On
the morning of the solemn day, as the set
tiers were slowly vending their way toward
the little chapel white sail appeared far
out in the offing and, waited by a fresh
breeze, the ship soon came to anchor. The
newcomer proved to be a supply ship from
dear old England, laden with all the COM
forts of civilized life, with not few of its
luxuries.
AS it were in twinkling, the day of
fasting was changed into day of feasting,
while abject supplications were turned
into yociferous praise and thanksgiving.
The people felt that their. prayers had
been anticipated and, giving way to their
impassioned joy, strong men sobbed like
children.
The chastened colonists, for many years
after this event, observed annual Thanks
giving days. Old records are extant
which cite that such days were
duly observed by official appoint
ment, in the years 1858, 1854, 1887, 1888 and
1889. But either on account of breaks in
the record or other reasons, the practice
seems not to have been continuous and as
new generations arose Thanksgiving days
seem wholly to have gone out Of vogue.
1t is matter Of history, however, that
the early Dutch governors of New York,
occasionally appointed such. days on spe-
cial occasions, and so did the English gov
ernor in 1764. During the war of the Reyo-
luton, an annual Thanksgiving day began
to assume marked significance and the
custom was recommended by congress, but
still there was lacking the one great essen
tial .of national unity in the movement
After the general Thanksgiving for peace,
in 1884, there was no similar public obsery-
ance till General Washington recon-
at the suggestion and request Of
congress, that day Of public thanksgiv-
ing should be held by the people, on ac-
count of the adoption of the constitution
in 1787. Washington also issued procla-
nation for day of public thanksgiving
on the occasion of the suppression of inter-
nal insurrection.
Congress having requested it, President
Madison proclaimed a day of public
for the restoration and ratif-
cation Of peace in 1915. Public thanksgiv-
ing days have been held in the New Eng
land states for more than century, with
little or no interruption in their annual
continuity, and to the people Of these
states are we indebted for the peculiar re-
ligious spirit which pervades such occa-
sions.
Thanksgiving days have been regularly
observed in New York since the year 1917.
In 1855, Governor Johnson, OF Virginia,
appointed day for public thanksgiving,
but when Governor Wise, Of the same
state, was requested by the people to make
! similar appointment he declined, on the
ground that state government had no
constitutional right to interfere with re-
igious matters. In 1858 the governors of
light southern states proclaimed day of
public praise and thanksgiving.
1t is well known that in 1868 President
lincoln proclaimed day of public humil-
alton and prayer ''for all loyal people, p
md since that time there has been a regu.
ar recurrence of the day all over the
United States. On account of some still
disputed precedent, custom has ordained
hat our national Thanksgiving shall fall
IN the last Thursday in November.