Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-26
rHANKsGIvINGs, INVENTOR.
what the People Of Today owe 10 Old Gov.
Bradford.


What the People Of Today owe 10 Old Gov.
Bradford.
II there ever vas An inventor who deserved
an extension to his family and . royalty on his
scheme IL was that good and noble inventor,
Gov. Bradford, of New England fame, Who
when he found that America was without rail-
roads and electric lights at that time, put his
massive brain at work, and. as . compensation,
invented Thansgiving day. There have been
various improvements added to the invention
since Gov. Bradford-may his memory keep
green--carried his Invention up to the colonial
patent Office, and amid the cheers Of his fellow
Plymouth Rocks laid down his fee and de-
manded his papers. 1t was in 1921 that Gov
Bradford started Thanksgiving day, and al
though the custom fell rather into innocuous
desuetude for many years the bluff old fellow
knew what he was about 1t came about in
this way, or at least 30 the story goes. In 1871
the old settlers at Plymouth had, strange to say,
been able to gather . harvest. How they did
1t and whether 1t consisted of Indian scalps or
simply witches and scolds Is not stated. At
any rate the old chronicles state particularly
that the harvest had been gathered. This was
Bradford's opportunity to spring his new in
yention, and. like the genius he was, he grasped
it. Promptly he sent out four men with guns
and wide trousers and big boots and jenkins
and funny helmet hats and instructions. The
most important part of the outfit we're the In
structions. Tho four men, the long guns. the
wide trousers, big boots, jenkins and funny
helmet hats are moldered to dust long ago,
but the spirit of the instructions has lived to
the present and will flash out today in thou
sands of happy families. Bradford told his
four men to GO out and scour the woods and
shoot as many water fowl wild turkeys, rab-
bits. DO, as the Indians and their own mark
manship permitted. These things were
to be brought in, that the people
The records don't say anything about celery,
cranberry sauce or pumpkin pie, and the lack
of these things may be the reason why the
practice lapsed for many years and was only
fnaily pat firmly on its feet by President Lin
coin.
At any rate, this first Thanksgiving day was
a roaring success. There was no religious
worship connected with the affair, but it was
considered a simple high old feast and rejoic-
ing that that mysterious harvest had been
gathered. number Of the Indians from the
peighboring counties came in and joined the
festivities, and several of the big chiefs be-
came 80 hilarious through the pressing hospi-
tality of the Plymouth Rockers that they traded
4 200 acres of land for an old tin cup and the
glass eye out of doll. The chiefs ended their
rejoicing promptly that day, blu. the settlers
felt happy for several days as they cut the land
up into villa sites and corner lots
Thus was the first Thanksgiving cele-
brated with innocent Hastings and trades
with the gentle savages. For several years
even In New England the custom did not take
a firm root or become an annual or religious
celebration. Every now and then, when the
populace fel: especially thankful about some
thing or had an especially good opportunity
for land deal with the Indians, day of
thanksgiving would be appointed and general
rejoice INDUCED in. As time went on, how
ever, the custom took firmer hold. The day
became an annual event and a religious event.
The strong hold which the day took on the
people arose partly from the disrepute under
which, at that time, Christmas was held and
also to the feeling, which has been common
with all nations, Of u desire to give expression
at stated time in the year of the general
thanks for the blessings which had been re-
ceived.
At the time Of the Revolution Thanksgiving
day owned all New England once every year.
Gen. George Washington was from Virginia,
where Thanksgiving day was n stranger, but
Gen. Washington knew good thing when he
saw it and was an excellent judge Of roast tar
key and various stuffings; so Gen. Washington
got out pencil and piece Of paper and wrote
a proclamation, which he had mailed to his
Y, 621 headquarters, in which he appointed
November rs. 1889. a day Of general thanks
giving. This was starter, but fo- many years,
even with the advances which had been made
In oyster dressing and chestnut stufhng, tho
day was only proclaimed at different intervals
in the north and west In 1885, however, eight
southern states showed the spirit of progress by
observing the day. Thanksgiving day in its
present form was, however, firmly established
by Lincoln when he named the last Thursday
in November, 1868, as o day of general thanks
for Gods constant mercies and gifts. This
was an innovation in giving general thanks
instead of thanks for some especial blessing.
Since that time Thanksgiving day has been
recognized from one end Of the land to the
other.