Evening journal., 1892-11-22

ship-uow wilmingtonians VIII Com
bine Religion and Amusements with
Turkey.
Residents of the United States are
given to remarlSing that Thanksgiving
is one of our distinctively American holi-
days Thanksgiving services after oc-
currences of special providence are as old
as the recorded history OF the human
race and the feast of ingathering the
other phase of our annual autumn festi-
val, has also some few thousands Of
years TO its record Of antiquity.
The FIRST record Of an American Thanks
giving Is Of one held in the Plymouth |
colony in what is now the State Of Massa.
chusetts, In 1921. There is no official |
record OF the setting apart Of the day, |
and the indications seem TO point TO the |
fact that the proclamation for the
pioneer Of its kind on this side of the
water was a very informal affair. Gov
ernor William Bradford, sturdy Puritan
that he was had yet within him "a suiii-
cient quantity OF the old Adam TO realize
that the easiest road 20 mans heart,
religiously as well as sontimentally con
sidered. lies by way of the stomach; and
az a preliminary Go his command that all
be thankful for a certain season. he took
the precaution TO send detachment of
men out in search Of deer and wild
fowl The expedition was abundantly
successful, and prayer and praises We're
doubtless rendered doubly fervent by
the substantial fare ON which they were
offered.
To the Puritan mind feast and fasts
were closely allied and almost inter
changeable. The second American
Thanksgiving of special note oc-
CURED in the Charlestown colony
still in what is now known as Massa-
chusetts, and oddly enough, fell on the
day which is now set apart as another of
the decidedly American holidays. The
22d of February, 1881, had been appointed
as day of prayer and fasting for the
| Charlestown colony. The little flock
boldly camping between the prosecutions
l of Europe and the terrors of the waste Of
waters on one side and the unexplored
forests and the fendish depredations Of
the Indians ON the other were reduced TO
the very verge of starvation. A writer
, of the peried quantity says that when it
became known that even in the gov
ernor's house the last batch of bread was
{ in the oven, despair settled over the
whole colony, though what might be the
general physical and moral support Of a
bread supply located in another mans
. house isn't exactly apparent in this ma
terial age Of Socialistic tendencies.
5. The vessel which had long months be-
fore left the colony 20 traverse the
dread Atlantic and bring back provisions
o from ireland had so far failed to put in
2 an appearance and hope was at It's
If darkest with the emigrsnts. But Just
d as the day of fasting was about to begin,
d the belated ship entered the harbor, and
in the infant Charlestown peace was moi
st only within her walls, but prosperity
b. had suddenly taken up its abode within
lr her borders. The day of fasting wa
d changed 30 one Of feasting, and called
l- forth public thanksgiving.
ID The first official Thanksgiving o
o. which there is any record in this coun
try was again Massachusetts, affair, anl
he the proclamation was issued in th
es Massachusetts, bay colony for October l6
ge 1633 Other official occasions Of sim
liar kind are registered as occurring il
3 1916 and in 1854, and from then on unti
of 1850, when the form Of the recorde
+ proclamation indicated that it had be
st come an annual custom.
g. During the Revolutionary war congres
,h took mp the matter and made it nations
I'd for the time, issuing each year call fo
er a special day of thanksgiving FOR mercie
~ received, and of prayer for continue
r. national blessings. The year 1776
ed notable for having a double quantity q
l- the day for two separate occasions wei
set apart by the Continental Congres
ur for the purpose After the peace year
d IS 1874, tho Continental fathers, having Il
It's longer the immediate necessity for pra,
yh ing from doliveranoe from armed inyl
sion, discontinued their proclamation
e. Tor few years. The quelling of th
He whisky insurrection In 1895 again calle
m, out the spirit of piety and by the r
on commendatiOn Of congress, Presidei
ch Washington issued the first PRESIDENT
call TO n day of general expression
I'd thankfulness.
'h The Day I'm Wilmington.
am Thanksgiving day in this city will be
me holiday among all classes. The prime
ne pal manufactures will close ON that da
b. as they do on Christmas. The few da,
IL between now and that time will be occ
pied in selecting the most suitable turk'
he in the market and preparing the 9th
lit part of the Thanksgiving day dim
is. program, aud how visitors will be ente
lso tanned. On the other hand the prospec
i've visitors will be dreaming Of the T
sts ception that will be Afforded them.
nts The services in the churches Of variol
of denominations will be imposing. Almo
rst all the churches have decorations
ds. preparation for the services. A numb
.ul of church suppers and entertainment
the sill be the order during the afterno'
to and evening.
the Amusements will attract the fun loviI
public. Football, shooting matches al
the theatres will be the features of I'll
vast assemblage. The several ri
ranges will have all day shooting matchs
ey, Football teams, the best this city CT
oh produce, will play equally as strong Wis
w. ing pigskin hustlers. The manageme
nee of the theatres have secured plays tn
mo. will please the theatre-goer. +
terpsichorean art will be tripped by ma
light fantastic toe on the glossy foe
OF the ball rooms of the city on the e
-. of the great feast.
lme Thanksgiving Shooting Matches.
are The Wilmington Rife club will hold
lhls all day shooting match at its groun
a over Eleventh street bridge.
81. .I..N 10.