The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-11-25
THE FESTIVAL OF HOME.

New York Post: Thanksgiving Day
has gradually become dear TO US simply
'as a yearly gathering OF the generations
which makes u family a unit; grand
father and grandmother. father and
mother, children and grandchildren, 10
these the day belongs in its modern
usage, Happy the household which can
summon them all, and blessed the board
around which the faces OF peaceful,
resting old age and vigorous maturity
and happy childhood are assembled to
share the family feast and mingle ten
der recollection with courageous hope.
II Is not a perfect feast II made from
modern dishes and served after the
fashion OF any other country but our
own. All Its concomitants should have
regard to tradition, and the grand
mother should not be made TO give a
reminiscent sigh. thinking how weari-
some are the many courses n how
different from the days OF old are all the
things she sees about. II IL a feast In
whose honor the old family china, the
old fashioned silver, even the curious
old pewter, should be brought forth
and the turkey should rule the roast"
Well a l see a long-drawn table
heaped, literally and c~onfusingly heap
ed, with the home-produced food OF an
abundant farm and garden She whose
dignthed presence graced the head OF
the table and whose unbounded hospi-
tally had planned the bill of fare had
given her notable ~housewifery TO the
perfecting OF every Wand. At the head
n foot We're turkeys that, even dead
and humbled to this use. seemed swol-
len with pride; one, brown and crisped
to a luscious tenderness, gave forth an
odor toward which an anchorite could
not have steeled himselr TO Indiifer-
ence, and the other, creamily white and
garnished with celery, invited those
who cared more for delicacy than rich
ness. Ham. whieh had been fattened
on sweet corn and many a pail OF but
termilk, wore a tempting crust OF graf
ed crumbs, just tinged 10 the pale, even
hue that testified TO the watchful eyes
which had marked its 1nal touch.
Grapes and apples and br~own-cheeked
pears challenged their kindred TO excel
their beauty, and the earth can hardly
produce a vegetable some type OF which
did not appear before the feast was
done.
Here the rare sight. for many reeur-
ring years, was seen Of four genera.
tons encircling the same table. And
when the benevolent, noble face Of the
mother and hostess wore its grave smile
OF satisfaction as she gradually saw the
blue of her old Canton china beginning
to show itself in the denuded dishes,
and sat complacently regarding her
children and her chlldren's children, as
tho aidnF. (ayarty Nh a MI cultsfper nidar
proved the best) and the nuts completed
the feast, q picture was photographed
upon the hearts OF her descendants that
will never fade, let the sunshine Of Joy
or the rain OF tears beat on 1t as they
may.
When the fire burned on the hearth,
and the November reds and puppies
glowed in the sunset sky, and the waves
reflected the glory Of the heavens as
night came down about the old house.
the stalwart sons hearts were as ten
der concerning their home as II they
were boys again, and they knew well
the value and the force Of the family
festival in keeping them true to the
traditions of their youth,
The esoteric character OF this festl-
val is in sharp contrast with the al
most as marked outgoing influence OF
Christmas. Home, back to the old
place. the old ways, the old memories,
is the guiding thought and purpose OF
the day. Especially is this true in those
who come of New England parentage.
In how many a desolate mining camp,
in how many a brand-new western
town and settlement, do men, at other
times forgetful OF everything but the
present in their hard-presSed Strug-
Cling lives, turn their yearning
thoughts toward the homes from which
they went forth to seek their for
tunes, and with unwonted tenderness
conJure UP the mayhap, abandoned
farm house In which they were reared.
At Christmas. dividing interests touch
the heart. There will always be a
strong religious element fundamental
to that day, noticed and though of
even by those who may not share the
faith which halls the dawning OF this
wintry festival as the birthday of its
Lord. Then, integral in its celebration
from the first appointment Of the feast,
there has been vitality present the pT1n-
ciple Of outgoing and outgiving, the
expansive joyous reclamation n rec
ignition OF the brotherhood OF man.
Custom has made permanent certain
methods OF decoration, there are fiNed
habits of making merry, and benevo-
lence Is the presiding spirit Of the time
Thanksgiving draws inward the
thoughts and spirits Of its celebrants,
and home is the centre Of all that makes
the day glad and tender. Personal
recollections, old associations, the
brotherhood, not OF the love which we
call charity. but Of a common parent
age. learned at a mothers knee and
strengthened by a fathers faithfulness,
these are the things OF which our mar
vest festival has grown to be the guar