The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-11-26
Thanksgiving Exercises by the
Graded Schools
DONATIONS FOR The POOR
The Program Was appropriate
10 the Occasion.
AT coLoRgo SCHOOLS ALSO
The Children in Raleigh Public Schools
Are Being Trained. Not ONLY
in Head. But in Heart
as Well.

Raleigh has riches that a world can
not buy. Her jewels, like those of the
Roman matron, are her children. Bright
or and more precious are they than the
gems hidden in the dark caves of the
earth.
These are the thoughts that must have
suggested themselves to those who wit
messed the Thanksgiving exercises Of the
children of the city public schools in
Metropolitan Opera House yesterday af-
ternoon from 4 to o'clock. 1t was
sight TO soften the hardest heart-a living
sermon, the text Of which was human
hann;ness and every word bright-faced
child 1t was true Thanksgiving SER
mon-these exercises and one that |
wish every man aud woman in Raleigh
could have heard, 1a
There was nothing solemn in the exer-
tsises themselves. The program could
not have been brighter and more enter
tanning. but there was that in the assem-
blage that suggested TO the thoughtful
observer a sober undercurrent OF fee%-
inc. The brightness and freshness Of
childhood; the deep, great, genuine sim
cerity of youth; the quick and willing
obedience of pupil to teacher: the sweet
simplicity and the unselishneSs, as dis
played in their gifts-was there ever any
thing more touchingly beautifulE
What strange reflections all this starts
IN one. Here are the rising generation.
What possibilities are bound up in those
words? The men and women of the
future. What will be their destiny !?
What their mission in the world? Such
days as yesterday and such days as every
day, spent by these very children in those
little red brick school buildings, must de-
eide. The whole world and history is
waiting for these men and women-to-be.
1t is a strange, an awful thought.
| find another useful lesson in these ex-
ercises. The teachers in these schools
are doing a work whose Importance can
only be measured by eternity. III paid
and often times unappreciated, they
are engaged in a noble cause, the noblest
of causes-whereby the smallest child
becomes a useful citizen, a true man or
woman, yeritable hero. The weak
thing, under their charge and teaching
becomes not only q strong thing one day,
but a true thing-a ruler of mankind. Is
it not all very singular? | thought SO
yesterday as / watched these children
march out of the hall at the conclusion
of the exercises singing:
Great God of nations, now to thee
Our hymn of gratitude we raise"
Long before the hour appointed foI
the exercises to commence the children
began to arrive. But they did not come
empty handed-these more than LOO
boys and girls They all brought gift
for the poor Some of them wore shabby
clothes and some were barefoot, but they
brought something, and in doing so they
were happy. There they were-those
thanksgiving gifts from bright, joyous
childhood to decrepit old age ard pow
erty. Never on earth, since the widow
gave her all and the Savior OF mankind
pronounced upon her the eulogy of the
ages, she hath done what she could, .
has there been a more touching object
lesson of charity and true thanksgiving.
The gifts consisted of almost every
conceivable thing, from sacks Of -four
to childrens toys. There were bundles
of clothing, packages of groceries, deli
cacies of all kinds, canned goods, bread,
hams, fruit, egetables-almost every
thing one can think of. They were piled
upon the rOstrum where they might be
seen by the audience, and big pile they
made.
When the exercises began at o'clock
the hall was filled to its utmost capacity.
The visitors, some FIVE HUNDRED In num-
Der, consisted principally Of ladies. The
floor Of the hall had been reserved for
IL, 81; a..
and friends occupied the galleries.
The exercises began with a song,
Come, We thankful people, come" The
whole school sang, and, / suspect, part
Of the visitors too. 1t was a rousing song
and sung with a viii. At its conclusion
Rev. w. G.. Norman offered up a prayer
of thanksgiving to the Giyer of every
good and perfect gift 1t was eloquent in
it's simplicity and tender pleading for
the divine blessing upon the young heads
bowed before him.
Then the address of welcome was deliy-
cred in clear distinct tones by little Helen
Allen, The story of Thanksgiving, as
related by Bessie Law, Ted Physioe, Liz
zie Wilson, Winfield Lyon and Lola Yam
cey was full of interest to the grown peo-
pie as well as to the children. 1t was
well told in a sort of serial story fash
ion, each one taking up the story where
the one preceding him had left off.
The questions were asked by Eliza
Brown.
Bessie Love told the sufferings Of tho
Puritans and their first harvest: OF Gov
ernor Bradford, who recommended gath
ering together for prayer and praise; OF
the great preparations for the feast
and of the invitation - Massasoit and
his warriors.
Ted Physioc told If the long drought
that came the next year; Of an appointed
fast day; of prayer for rain, and of the
plentiful crops that followed, and the
second thanksgiving.
Lizzie Wilson told about Congress
recommending a day Of thanksgiving an
nually during the Revolution; OF Lincoln,
who. in 1868, made a proclamation for
national observance, and how since then
a proclamation has been issued each
year
WinErId IysH described the Jewish
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