Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1900-12-01
THANKSGIVING DAY IN GRAND
MAS TIME.

MAS TIME.
Is it question of changing climate, or
what is it, that has taken much Of the
Old-fashioncd flavor out of Thanksgiving.
and made it so unlike what il used to be?
Il don't care for Thanksgiving. says
more than one young person in these
days:
"That is because you don't know
Thanksgiving" says the mother in reply.
IF you could have one of the old-time
Kind of festival days. such as | had
when a girl. you would change your
mind.
But would she? That is the question
Different times, different manners. you
know, and with her up-to-date ideas and
ap-tO-date habits possibly the day would
seem tame to her with its quaint observ-
anceS, Old-fashioned amusements and
early hours.
Even in the country the day doesn't
seem Guitc what it was in the days be-
fore the Civil war. Perhaps it is be-
cause holidays are more frequent now
Shan they used to be, and there is not
so much time for anticipation. 1t is not
SO very many years since Thanksgiving,
The Fourth of July-0r, as it was always
called, Independence day--and Fast day
were the only days legally set apart for
icSt and kept as holidays.
Christmas was not generally observed,
particularly i'll the rural districts. where
the strict spirit of Purtanism remained
the longest alive, and the few who did
keep it did il in half-hearted. shame.
faced sort of way, making it more of II
secular than a religious festival. and
made the children the apology for even
the small SemhlanCe of observance
Aud so il was that Thanksgiving waS
regarded as the prominent festival of tn"
year and was looked forward to rs til
time of Il happy family reunion. II was
the day when the children and grand
children gathered together under the old
roof tree, when care and trouble were
put aside. and everyone gave himself IN
TO enjoyment. Those were the DAYS when
the old homes were not broken up, when
father and mother stayed mt the Old
homestead and made glad the nomecom-
ing OF those who had gone out from its
shelter to make a way and set up a home
for themselves
Then how the clouds were watched for
days for the first snow. There must be
sieighing for Thanksgiving. and skating.
TOO. The Ice was tried on the old mill
pond, to see if il would be thick enough
10 bear the weight of the skaters. and
At Is but justice TO the clerk of the old
'aShioned weather to say that he usually
provided both snow and ice for the
thanksgiving frOlc
Breakfast was late ON THANKSGIVING
morning; then everybody went tn Iha
church service. except the childrcn who
were too small to 90, and either grand
uothef or one of the home aunties, who
stayed tn look after the little ones and
do the needed things which had been lef;
"ntii the day itself. After service the
elders gathered before the big fireplace
III The best ROOM and talked of old times
and new times, while the children wen.
o0 co9stihg or skating. fortified by cook
YES ana plum cake from the lavish hand
OF grandma. Then came dinner. tbe
royal feast of turkey, chicken Die. every ,
vegetable taat could he grown on the
Farm, plum pudding, all kinds of pie and
cake, and everybody ate until he rouLIn',
eat another bit. There were no SONS ar
salads served in the old-timp bin of fare
tor lhankSgNing Up country. Nobody
After dinner there were un;et tolL, ~
the corners in the twilight: Then - rni
hcking game Of blind mans mf "
hunt The slipper London bridge" or
drop the handkerchief" in which rvor,.
body joined; then the little folks v,.r..
put to bed. the big kitchen cleared and
Win someone to play the fiddle thprr
Mouin Ne the dancing of old dances
uuii victory. twin sisters" "chorus
jig and sir Roger de- Cove.ly." The
uCEnouflh% Young folks came in for the
N"'' N~' t'i'N tNflA htlN grandma and
grandma included, took part in Il Re-
tEern The dances some Of the Young peo.
pa from the city, who were learning to
dance under foreign masters would show
some of the new daaccS. and it is saf, to
assume that no ballet Of the modern day
was ever more awc-nSpring and blush.
producing than the famous polka the first
time 1t was ever danced in Il country
Kitchen 10y visiting grandchildren.
y IAsa t4,v..
OF corn popping. apple-cating and cider
drinking in front of the big fireplace;
then, before II O'clock goudnightS were
said, and midnight found the old home
roof sholtering houScful of happy
sIcepers.