Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1896-11-23
A FEAST DAY.

Once more dear old Thanksgiving
comes on, tenders loving festival.
Thanksgiving is home day, hospita-
BILE day. 1t is then, perchance, the
wanderer comes back to the old home.
The children are gathered together like
birdlings under the mother birds wing.
Sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts and un-
cles meet again in one of those happy
reunions. Happy hearts, smiling faces,
light, warmth and flowers. all lend their
charms for the perfection of a joyous
time. On this day, too, it is suitable to
make new or kindly resolutions in com
memoration of the brave pilgrims who
came here to establish morality, frater-
nifty and peace for coming generations.
These people, who had almost forgotten
how to enjoy themselves, and who had
come to associate pleasure with sin, for
once gave way in the fullness Of their
hearts and were merry. The first great
harvest festival was held in golden Oc-
tober in 1921, after a year of anxious
waiting and watching. The rain and
sunshine had performed their gracious
miracles, and the people united in one
glad recognition of Gods bounty. Some
of the men had been sent out to bring
home game from the forests, and this,
with cakes of Indian meal, pumpkins and
wild grapes formed no doubt, dinner
fit to set before king. For many long
years almost everything but turkeys,
pumpkins and corn was brought from
England. AS Thanksgiving is q dis
tinctly American holiday, these should
be found in some form or other on every
loyal dinner table on that day.
Thanksgiving was not set apart as
a holiday until many years later, al
though one day every year, usually in
hn foil ~ M fo1. col
thanksgiving and rejoicing. At first the
day was observed with deep religious
feryor and spent by the Puritans in
counting their mercies, even the few
they had; but in the year 1888, after the
treaty of peace was signed, followed the
happiest Thanksgiving which ever
dawned. Almost every family well
coined home hero, and in the bonfras,
cheering, discharges of artillery, and dis
playing of flags, they gave expression to
their happiness. Since then one pleasure
and amusement after another has crept
in, until the day is now looked upon as
one of special hilarity and good cheer.
Thanksgiving comes but once year,
and as there is considerable pleasure in
eating, let us have a jolly good dinner
if we die for it. What matter if the
gnawing pangs of Indigestion cause the
fated gobbler to parade before our sleep
less eyes. 1t is not necessary to kill the
fatted calf and bring together viands
from all corners Of the earth, for surely
there is nothing more appetizing than
the dinner of 100 years ago. There
were turkeys boiled and roasted, chicken
pie, rutabaga turnips, and many of the
homelier vegetables, pumpkin pies, mince
pies, plum buildings, apples, nuts, and,
in fact, only such products as their own
gardens produced. Today there must be
gathered from all quarters of the globe
wines, fruits, nuts and luxuries never
dreamed of by these simple folk, who, no
doubt, were happier and felt better after
their Thanksgiving dinner than many of
our modern epicures who spend several
days before Thanksgiving in thinking
what they will eat, and just as many
in getting over the effects of it,
Although Thanksgiving is day for
rejoicing, feasting and gladness for
many, there is a sad side to it also. In
our abundance let us not forget that
many around us are possibly in need
Perhaps we do not know of such, but
others may, How much happiness a
basketful of goodies may carry to some
sad home! "Such as l have you may
have also," is splendid maxim for
thanksgiving, for it is a selfish happi-
ness, indeed, which is satisfied in not
making others glad.