Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-11-25
THANKSGIVING DAY.
A HAPPY TIME WHEN FAMILY
CIRCLES ARE REUNITED.
AN OCCASION WHEN THE TURKEY OFT
TIvEL CHOSEN IN 17s2


belonging almost exclusively 10 the north
ern states Of the Union, bat now the oh
s-rvanee knows no north. south. east nor
81, and eSeryw here over our broad land
Il BEAUTIFUL custom rests upon Us like a
hs.u dicJion From far and near the mem
b = Of the family circle who have flown
AMY from the horne nest find their way
hack for Thanksgiving. ilk---.cs-rier pi-
g>ons, bearing with them tender thoughts
and renleln.4rsAace % the loved ones who.
with the poet de,aldoI that; TO stay at
home i bc>f
Thor J. No law saying that ThanksSiv-
Ing shall he observed nor i there uccI 81
aHy Tor the law % custom has dt-Idei tke
matter and the president issues each year
IA Thanksgiving proclamation setting
aside a certain day in the latter part al
November for the general celebration
Tho lzst Eah,5= Thanksgiving day aP-
pointed officially in this country was OBJ
se-yed hv the Purstans GA Oct -. 1881.
II lis thc char Lain ot congress rvco.a-
uend1I that "Wednesday DIS, a. hc eb-
served A. q day Of public Thanksgiving ard
praise In t7-3 the first Tuesday IN May
was - assGe ard in October. 1873. Cen
gresham Eaot suggests! that the day ~
changed 80 Thursday. Dsx. g, but in l7s2
Thsr-s4ay Noy =, was chosen and from
that time to the pr~ent the last THURSDAY
in Novenlber has been the day decided
uIon for the craat festival
Il Is god day To lay aside and forget
all difFerenes- and to keep in one hear
only the tenderness and sunshine out Of
which the lips and eyes viii masc such
loving smiles and glanos4
After father and mother. the oldest
grandchild and the newest baby, the next
most important Thanksgiving parsonage
* the TURKEY Ee Is noble b.ped, and,
while 1t may not be his aim in life oshine
al the fcstal Thanksgiving board it is
most assurytily his end The turkey Is
the great American bird. and on Thanks
giving days he outshincs the lorily eagle
in point OF utility and as n subject for dis
cuasion 81 the most absorbing kind The
exact origin OF the turkey is buried in OBJ
scurity but he himself Is 80 r,<pIendent
that his ancestry may be forgiven him. or
rather the hazincSs OF 81 may be Any
bird 50 thoroughly satisfactory and admi
r7.blc a. the turkey must have had noble
ancestry, and The proud blood OF soIac
great as3 roEal biHsd must psvlorre iios
gladly through his veins
IN the fore l.art 81 the sixtostth century
the charms % the new world bird and
wherever he his been introduced be Ia.
made a favorable and lasting impression.
We can imagine Thanksgiving dinner
without its Eihec &c resistance b6iug the
turkey stuffed with chcstuuts, oysters OF
truiIles and revealing its noble pruror-
tinE- and golden brown breast To The ad-
hiring gaze OF the assembled diners
tan II be- possible that the turkey viii
ever occupy u loss lofty pinnacle than be
AT present ENJOYS Perish the thought,
Akin tu car IaauE-Iiy ing day celrbra-
ton Is the green corn dance OF the Indian.
which probably had is origin hundreds Of
years ago 1t falls due every september
and Is observed with great enthusiasm
and picturesque saVagcry The event Is
commemorative Of the yearly ripcning OF
the corn and grain, and ali the members
OF the tribe assemble nj given place. ar
raypd in the glurics Of paint, feathers. rcd
blankets beads, moccasins and other sim
liar adornments. But, alas there Is no
roast turkey In its place Is boiling
caldron OF real dog So saith tradition,
at any rate But to return to civilization.
The exchange Of Thanksgiving souvenirs
Is almost a. universal now as that OF
birthday and Christmas renembrances,
and really the occasion is cTninently fitting
for such a custom One always enjoys the
possession of pretty souvenirs, for many
happy little memories cluster around
them, like sunbeams around a summer
rose. ThanksgiS ing souvenirs should not
be elaborate, but appropriate and sugges-
tive of the merry occasion. All kinds of
cunning little bonbon boxes are now
shown. decorated with tiny gilt turkeys or
I'll
in their innocent little mouths. Small
paper pumpkins. filed with dainty bon
bons, are also timely little souvenirs. and
real Thanksgiving candies in the way of
sugar turkeys. an ear of ripe corn in crcam
paste. nuts and pumpkins in chocolate
and barley sugar are especially appropriate
decorations,
Autumn leaves and flowers form beauti-
full adornment for the dining room and Ia
BILE the halls and pariOrs. and only the
rich autumn culors of red and russell, tan
and gold and brown, should be allowed TO
hold high relclry at the great autumn
carnival OF the year.
1t is happy custom now for Thanks
giving evening 10 b. filled up with merry.
informal games and dances. ia y hich Old
and !UGAs 4-ay Aoth JOIN 49,. .-.-l ..3=
priety. Any Of the games played during
the holidays and on birthday and social
occasions are perfectly suitable ior ! l>.L.s-
giving night, and proverbs buzz story
telling, reading character in the palm. tor
tune telling, quotations, the memory game
and others Of "a similar nature will afford
any amount OF fun and pleasure 10 young
and old
! biz, splendid, golden pumpkin.
deckcd with vines about its base, makes
fine centerpiece for a Thanksgiving dinner
table, or just the shell Of the pumpkin
may be used as vase, and autumn leaves
and berries and vines may overflow its
golden body in the most gorgeous sFiendor
One Of the best ways 10 enjoy Than =
giving is TO contribute something to re
fund for supplying the poor and fricndle-s
with a good, wholesome Thanksgiving
dinner. New York and Brooklyn have
many charitable people who Will see that