Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-11-23
THANKSGIVING DAY.
Ihe Great Holiday-How the President
issues his Proclamation.

issues his Proclamation.
Every year at about this time the Presi-
dent of the United States issues procla-
nation fixing Thanksgiving Day" as it
has come to be known. Every year the
proclamation of the President is trans
mitted to the governors of the States, and
the day named by the President is set
aside as general holiday. Originally it
was Intended as a day of fasting and
prayer. Now 1t Is day of feasting and
frolic and foot ball games. Every good
American is thankful that he Is an Ameri-
can 1865 days In the year-snd one day
extra In leap years. He does not need a
special day set aside for rejoicing.
The making of the Thanksgiving Day
proclamation Is q serious duty for the
President; for IL is customary for him to
write this proclamation with his own hand
and TO put into 1t as much of the spirit of
the day as possible. President Harrison
used to take pencil and little pad of
paper and write out the proclamation la
full. Then he would turn 1t over to one
Of the executive clerks to be copied Mr.
than TO dictate. President Cleveland also
writes some things with his own hand, but
he uses stenographer, too, a great deal.
The first draft of the proclamation is
copied and the copy Is sent 10 the State de-
partment. There are two or three clerks
in the State department who make
speciality of penmanship. one OF these
engrosses the proclamation on parchment
artist ally. The parchment IS sent back
to N" White House to receive the Presi-
der signature. When 'Grover Cleve-
lanu has been writtel al the bottom OF 1t
1t is taken back to the State department,
where Walter .. Gresham's" signature
attests that of the President. Then the
great seal OF the State department is
affixed. Il is very ornate aDel, 1t ought
10 be, for IL cost ST 900. r Is kept 10
rosewood case in the bureau OF commits
slons and pardons. and its custodian is
George Bsrtle, who has been in the depart
part service for forty seven years Bsrtle
was appointed 10 clerkship by Daniel
Webster He Is one of the oldest en-
ployees Of the government at Washington.
II takes an order from the President of
the United States to procure an impression
Of the great seal of state. Collectors of
seals and autographs frequently write to
seal OF state. The same formal reply Is
sent 20 all OF them-that under the law no
impressions OF the seal can go out OF the
department unless they are affixed TO
official papers. The President OF the
United States could give authority to
collector to obtain an impression OF the
seal But no President has ever done so.
The law Of 1889 says that the seal shall
not be affixed TO any instrument except
commission without the special warrant
of the President therefor" The President,
therefore, when he sends q Thank -giviny
proclamation 10 the State department for
the seal, sends with it a copy OF the follow
ing printed form, duly filed out and
signed:
II hereby authorize and direct the secre-
tsry OF state TO cause the seal of the United
States 10 be affixed 10 -, dated this day
and signed by me, and for doing SO this
shall be his warrant
When Mr. Bsrtle receives this order he
unlocks the rosewood case, puts seal
loped circle of paper In the press and with
light turn of the heavy steel ball above
brings the seal down on the paper and
leaves its impress there. Then the stamped
piece Of paper Is fastened to the procla-
nation and 1t is ready to go TO the world
Bart4e i very conscientious about the
exercise Of his duties toward the great
seal, and he has controversies not infre-
quently with people who are In hurry for
public documents, and who do not under
stand why the State department has not
authority under the general law TO aftix
the great seal TO any document bearing the
Presidents signature.
When the proclamation has been COM
pleted by the addition of the seal, clerks
of the State department are set to work
making copies for transmission to the
governors Of the States and territories
These copies are not made on typewriters
or with manifoldng paper or by any other
process Of duplication. The State depart
ment uses the typewriter for some pur-
poses, but not for official correspondence.
All of the copies of the proclamation are
written out on the long sheets of blue pa
per which are used for official correspond
ence. Each governor who receives copy
Of the Presidents proclamation will make
proclamation of his own. But in the
meantime the proclamation of the Presi-
dent has been made public, and the people
all over the country know what day has
been chosen for "Thanksgiving. = Wash
iRgtOR Star