Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-11-30


bration Of the kind in modern times was
in October, 1879. at Leyden, where there
was a Thanksgiving celebration Of the
first anniversary Of the city's dcliveranCe
from siege. Forty-six years later. in the
fall OF 1921. Governor Bradford. after
the first harvest Of the Plymouth colony
in New England, proclaimed n day Of
thanksgiving and sent out four men in
search of game to enable them to observe
il better
These Puritan fathers, whose suffer
ings had impaired to their devotion u
certain degree Of sternness, were very
thankful for a bountiful harvest after a
period Of sore distress and looked upon
the first fruits of their toll in their new
The four sportsmen came back stagger-
ing under a burden of turkeys and other
Wild fowl enough toprovlsi0n the colony
for week. The commencement Of the
festival was announced by the roar Of
one Of the great guns on the hilltop, and
the day was Thursday, Oct "a. rather
less than one year after their arrival in
Cape God bay.
There was solemn procession first to
the meeting house, the men marching
three abreast. with the sergeant in com
mand and Governor Bradford following
behind, while Elder Brewster, ia his
preachers cloak. walked alongside bear
ing the Bible and looking as grave "a
the occasion demanded. Miles Staulish,
the warllke military chief, was there,
and clad IN the dress Of the times would
cut strange figure if present among US
now. No doubt that Thanksgiving din
ner was ENJOYED keenly and was theIig-
gest thing in the way Of "a family party
that has occurred since. Most OF the
game was cooked in the open air. and
the thrifty Puritan housewives concoct-
ed dishes that We're tempting and ingen-
ious. The dinner was followed by the
singing Of psalms and Of favorite songs
that they had often sung around English
firesldes.
In the midst of their rejoicings an In
dian shout was heard, causing a momen-
tary panic, and every man grasped his
weapon, but IL was only hundred friend
ly savages, led by Chief Massasoit, who
had come to thank the white man for
assistance rendered and TO share in the
festivities. They brought contribution
TO the test in the way Of venison, and
while it was being prepared gave an ex-
hibition Of their war dances, causin. de-
nure Puritan lnaldens TO scream and
their lovers 10 look gallant and fearless
as they reassured them. Captain Stand
ish in turn gave the Indians start by
putting his troops through a military
drill, the savages being alarmed by the
rafting Of the musketry and the roar of
the ordnance. The feast continued three
days amid prayers, psalm singing, In
dian dances and warwhoops and roaring
artillery, after which the Indians We're
escorted short distan>s from the set
tlement by Captain Standish and his
troops, who gave them a parting salute
Days Of thanksgiving We're officially
appointed in the Massachusetts, Bay col
ony for several years prior to 1889. The
New Netherlands Dutch rulers also set
apart regular days of thanksgiving be-
tween the years 1914 and 1865, and 100
years later on the English governors Of
New York followed their example.
The proclamation of the New Neither
lands council, sitting at Fort Amster-
dam in 1645, was as follows:
Whereas, 1t has pleased Almighty God in his
unbounded clemency and mercy, in addition
to many previous blessings, to suffer US to
reach the long looked for peace with the In
dians,
Therefore Is il deemed necessary to proclaim
the fact to all those of New England to the end
that in all places in the aforesaid country
where Dutch and English churches are estab-
ished God Almighty may be specially thanked,
praised and blessed on neyt "Wednesday fore
noon, ting the 9th OF September, the text 10
be appropriate and the sermon to be applicable
thereto.
Your reverence will please announce this
matter to the congregation next Sunday so
that they may have notice.
On W hich We rely.
Throughout the Revolution the annual
observance of Thanksgiving day was duly
recognized by congress. After peace,
however. it was thought to be no longer
necessary till 1889, when the adoption of
the constitution was made a national
thanksgiving by the appointment Of
President Washington. Like rejoicings
took place in celebration Of the suppress
sion of insurrection in 1895 and the
restoration of peace in 1915. The first
Thursday in November was recommend
ed as day Of national thanksgiving by
the prayer book of the Protestant Epis-
| copal church in 1889, since when other
denominations have made similar provi-
sions. The governor Of New York 70
years ago appointed a regular day, and
the other northern states quickly fol-
lowed, the southern states joining in aft
er the war.
The staid and chastened rejoicing with
which the honest but austere pilgrim
fathers observed the day may BE- learned
from the proclamation in 1857 Of Petrus
Stuyvesant, or rather Of the council OF
the New Netherlands, in which he en-
| joins thankfulness, but forbids certain
worldly pleasures in the following words
| In order that these services may be observed
with the greatest harmony the director gen.
eral and council forbid during the exercises
| on the said day Of Thanksgiving all such pleas
| ures as playing tennis or ball, hunting, fishing
| driving. blowing. moving, together with al for
bidden plays. as dice. convivislity and such Ike