The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-25
THE INTELLIGENCER.
WHEELING. NovnMnEa Is, ls01.
Thanksrlvlng pay.

BY appointment OF the President OF The
United States, in accordance with GUS
tom, this is to be a day Of national
Thanksgiving for the blessings which
have been showered upon the country
during the past year. That Is the pur-
pose OF the day, and the same spirit
which Inspired the first Thanksgiving
proclamation by the first President of the
republic dictated the proclamation of the
present Chief Executive,
There is much for us as a nation to be
thankful for. Bountlful crops, renewed
activity in industrial lines, increased
trade with foreign nations. peace at
horee and with other nations. and i'm
-provement in the general condition Of the
people. are some of the things that the
country has to be grateful for. The year
has been fairly free from great calami-
ties, and, happily the most serious of the
Affections experienced is now about pass
ed. and the of country stricken
by the plague is rapidly recovering from
the evil effects,
These things being true, those who OBJ
serve Thanksgiving in the proper spirit
will feel that they have, as a part OF the
people who are the government OF the
republic, every incentive for devout
thankfulness. But. unfortunately, 1t is
not an overlarge proportion of people
who, as a rule, observe the day in this
spirit. 1t was never intended by the
o~riginators of the custom of setting
apart one day in the year FOR national
Thanksgiving that It should be made al
together a day OF sport, with no thought
Of the real meaning OF the occasion, and
yet that seems to be the conception OF a
great many persons.
It will not do, however. to decry q par
tial celebration of Thanksgiving day by
the indulgence in harmless amusements
and athletic sports. II he is truly thank
full for the blessings the nation has re-
ceiyed during the year the young Ameri-
can.w whose patriotism makes 1t a day TO
celebrate as well as a day OF religious
observance, must be accorded a measure
of excuse. There are various ways Of
demonstrating ones appreciation of
blessings, but never. IN whatever form
the manifestation OF the appreciation is
rendered, should the real meaning, the
r Significance OF the day be forgotten,
as, unfortunately, is too often the case.
Among those who enter into the spirit
of the day as was destgned by the origi-
majors OF the custom. after the thanks
giving come the fsasting and the family
reunion, in the homes where clrcum-
stances will permit, and on the part of
many there is a remembrance Of the
neiabbor in whose home Thanksgiving
Day brings no cheer and the annual feast
IS wanting.
Substantial charity and sympathy for
the unfortunate and the suffering. who
are on every side, should be as much a
mart OF the Thanksgiving celebration as
the music from the organ loft, the pray
ers OF the pastor, the feasttng at home.
the family reunion, the games and sports
of the afternoon and evening. 1t Is a
pleasure to know that throughout this
great country to-day thousands upon
Thousands OF hearts will thus be made
happy. and the only thing which mars
that thought is that other thousands will
be neglected. But this cannot be helped.
1t Is the way OF the world and has been
from the beginning.