The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-11-13
THANKSGIVING
DAY IS COMING.
The Day Of Football Games, Turkeys
and Chrysanthemums.
ORIGINATED WITH THE PILGRIMS
Governor Bradford, of Massachusetts
Two Hundred and Fifty Years
Ago Instituted the First
Thanksgiving Day.
ORIGINATED WITH THE PILGRIMS

AT the gathering OF the winter now
comes Thanksgiving tide.
In the glory OF it's atmosphere. its pie
and turkey pride;
And it is most becoming that its cheer
should far and wide abound
Zen going to the humblest home where'er
it may be found"
Thanksgiving Day is on its way again,
and when the 2ith instant is come,
the day set apart by the President Of the
United States for day OF thanksgiving
for having lived another year with plenty
and peace and more about US. will have
dawned.
DAY OF PRAYER.
Every year this feast is observed
throughout the country. Al first II was
designed as a day of prayer and religious
devotion with a surcease of labor and
toll. In these latter days, however.
Thanksgiving Day, is considered as more
of a day for football, turkeys. pumpkin
pie. chrysanthemums and matinces.
People spend an hour or SO in church
and then git down to a dinner fit for
the gods. after which the football game
and the matinees are taken in.
The festival is an old one having ORR
ginated among the early Puritans. 1t has
been a general holiday In New England
for many years but has gradually spread
until now the day is accepted by the
people OF the whole land as a fitting time
to give thanks.
ORIGIN OF THANKSGIVING DAY.
In October, 1921. at Plymouth. Mass, n
party Of Puritans sat in the room of one
he ~
that had befallen them. They were con-
sidering the matter OF establishing some
suitable time for day of thanksgiving
but. truly they had little to he thankful
for. 1t was hardly a year since the party
OF about hundred had landed upon the
shore from the Mayhower. and now
scarcely half of them were living.
Trials and tribulations and fate had
chastened them, yet they bore II all and
were but now counselling among them
selves plans for their future religious and
material welfare.
In the party was Governor Bradford
lie had sat silent and heard the various
expressions of opinion from those pres
ent One OF the speakers, an old gray
haired woman said:
TALKED IT OVER.
1.-THE Lord. instead of chastening. hath
greatly prospered u.s. For are we not
now permitted TO worship Him I'm spirit
and in truth. such as hath not been our
privilege for many day before? Have
we not homes? And though the harvest
be scant yet have we not faith that the
Lord will maintain his promise and pro-
vide for His own. even as He hath al
ready done in guiding us hither2 So In
view of these many graces, day OF
Thanksgiving seems to me more meet than
a day of penance.'
Silence followed this speech for n few
minutes and then Governor Bradford
spoke out:
This faithful sister hath shamed us,
and taught us a lesson Of bravery. With
her good man gone. stalwart son laid
low and as likely lass as ever opened
a pair of blue eyes under England's blue
skies living. too. out there OH Coles Hill,
she vet sees reasons for thankfulness
rather than cause for repining. We must
not be outdone by her. and instead OF sit
ting I'm sackcloth and ashes we VIII praise
God for His manifold mercies TO us and
feast rather than fast. The forests abound
in game though our crops be poor, ana
thither shall our young men go and ind
materials for the repast. Courage Is bet
ter than fear
His words were greeted with hearty ap-
prevail, and then It was that the national
feast of Thanksgiving Day had It's origin.
MODERN THANKSGIVING DAY.
Now the day is generally observed, and
on the coming occasion, there Will be
Thanksgiving offered for the cessation of
hostilities with Spain and for the pros
perity that has once more spread itself
over the country.
The usual football game will be played
here the usual matinee will be gwen
the usual family gatherings Will take
place. and the usual number OF turkeys
and cranberry sauce will be consumed
Services will he held in the churches.
and the day will be but one for thank
offerings for spiritual and physical COM
fort.