The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-11-30
SOME ECHOES FROM THE PAST.
The Origin Of Thanksgiving
Traced Back.
The Pilgrim Fathers Made a Gloomy
Attempt at Rejoicing.
The First Prssid eutisi Procl amation
Made In 1915 by james Madison
and the Custom Firmly
Planted by Lincoln.


Another Thanksgiving day 10 num-
bered with the events that are past,
and nothing remains but the memory,
and scattered through out the length and
breadth OF the land a huge aggregation
Of clean. picked bones.
How many, yesterday. while feasting
on the succulent turkey and the luscious
cranberry sauce, remembered. If they
ever knew, how Thanksgiving day
came to be observed? IL was a long
time in getting general recognition, for
it is not exclusively an American affair,
and was not generally observed in the
west and south until after the war, albeit
in New England II may be traced back
to the year 1921.
THE EVOLUTION OF THE FESTIVAL.
Its origin, like that OF most other hol.
d avs. 10 hidden in the mists of by
gone age. Over 5000 years ago the Is.
rselites we're instructed by Moses to
keep feast after they became estab-
lishad in the holy land. They called it
the Feast of TAbernacles. and for eight
days following the close OF harvest they
dwelt In booths made OF verdant boughs,
and feasted on the corn and oil and
wine. With the lapse Of time splendid
ritual was developed, including singing
In responsive choruses. Later the Greeks
held nine days feaet, similar in char
acter. in which slaves were permitted to
participate. and all criminals. save muir
derers. The Romano, too, observed q
eimilar feast in honor of Ceres, goddess
of grain.
The Harvest Home was rigidly OBJ
served by the Ssxons, and in Merr!e
England the old-time festival is still
honorsd In the early days OF the
American colonies the day was marked
in half.hearted way. and with the
Pilgrim Fathers. in 1920, it was a
gloomy affair. In 1923 a ship loaded
with provisions failed to arrive, and
Governor Bradford appointed day OF
humiliation, fasting and prayers, but,
the expected ship arrived and 90 the day
WAS made one of Thanksgiving
In 1851 the Puritans ran out OF pro-
visions. and February 9th was named az
day of fasting and prayer. As in the
former case the ship arrived, and the
fast gave place to a feast. On June Is,
1887, there was general service in all
the churches of New England to return
thanks for the great victory at Fort
Mystic over the Pequots, and on the 18th
OF October following . general service
and feast. in honor OF peace and the
settling OF some religious differences.
DIDN'T THANK WORTH CENT.
Governor Andres ordered the people
to give thanks on the 1st of Decsm Der;
but they hated Andres and were not
thankful. Several individuals were ar
rested for treating the proclamation with
contempt. but the home authorities
seemed to think this action bordered on
the absurd, and his action was dissp-
proved.
From thence on Thanksgiving was
very generally observed in all the states
settled by England. the governor nam.
ing the day. George Washington made
O recommendation to congress liz 1889,
that q national day be named to com.
memorate the adoption of the constitu-
ton; the suggestion was adopted and
the day WAS generally observed. In
1895 the proceeding was repeated. The
first presidential proclamation issued on
the subject WAS issued by James Madi-
SON in 1915. to celebrate and return
thanks for peace restored. Forty. eight
years later President Lincoln issued the
second one in 1868. Since, then every
president has followed the custom and
Thanksgiving day 10 now nationally Oh
served.
THE THANKSGIVING LAY.
To trace out the connection between a
robust turkey, with sausage necklace,
and an internal anatomy of such succu-
lent character as would make the eyes
OF the average mortal bulge with delight,
with Thanksgiving day 10 more difficult.
1t SCENE, too, q heartless proceeding to
attempt to philosophise on such a subs
ject after q vast holocaust has been
offered up on the altar Of appetite.
Rather let today be made second day
of Thanksgiving in mentally returning
thanks for the good things Of yesterday.
With sympathetic pen one OF the lighter
poets Oh. @. Dodge has voiced the gem
eral regard for the king bird OF the
woodland, as follows:
To praise the Turkey we sA
With T G sublimc;
In D ID makes Thanksgiving day
l. all other time.
His drums,icks r N joyed by tots;
All Ds like his breast,+
And none before they'v E 10 lets
Will chance TO rest.
His Turks cap makes L O deemt
His N M = Is Iisht;
His wish bone makes NJ A dream
OF fortune & d light.
SO good to Z T ia that we
O. our hungry haste,
Aud snout I0r more" with h q
Till stuffed A bout the waist.
The carver has no & z time;
1t is hates
with per v rance most sublime
He fills the plates.
In X G doesn't rightly carve
And help us to Ks,
At dinners D has to starve
And 2 X bone, we guess.
But If his 2 will retain
The P q likes to get;
We don't Y he should refrain
For etiquette.
The turkey is N o BILE bird;
Thanks for him B stow,
Aud by this v to he heard
He'd rise, though dead, g. crow.
x-PLAIN-A-TIoEs NEss-A.RY.
~ All ladies like his breast"
makes fellow Deem"
at is job he hates"
The EptscoD Churches,