The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1901-12-06

Essay read by Frank Moore, president
OF the Trout Lake literary society, al
meeting of that body the evening before
Thanksgiving:
The origin of Thanksgiving is associated
with the earliest religious customs. The He
brews, the Greeks and the Romans offered
thanks to their gods for victories in war and
preservation in peace, In England, people
observed Thanksgiving nom the earliest
times, making il day of feasting, offering
thanks and almsgiving. The harvest festival
was an expression Of gratitude for the fruits
of the earth.
in the Mayfiower, brought with them an in,
tense religious zeal. Planted on the bleak
New England shore, one would suppose they
had little to be thankful for. For one thing,
they were thankful to get away from Eng
land. They were thankful TO endure the hard
winters. From the barren soil they we're
thankful 10 get living. Among savages,
they were thankful for their lives. 50, after
harvest, they set apart day for feasting and
worshp-a sort Of harvest festival. Every
body went to church. The good housewives
prepared tempting viands weeks In advance,
But on thanksgiving morning they heated
up the old-fashoned bake-oven and placed
therein the fatted turkey. Wo unto the min
lister who preached too iongl Many an anx-
ious glance crossed the congregation in those
days of three-hour sermons and feryent pray
ers. But the one day in the year that the
preacher knew when TO stop, Thanksgiving
had its reminder, for the minister was never
forgotten In the distribution Of the harvest
offerings. Nor were the deserving poor. We
should remember that slavery was once in
vogue in New England, and every humble
household was the recipient OF some culinary
were Il speciality. | envy the small boy who
lived on preserves ana pum-pudding. 1t is
no wonder that his patriotism crushed the
power of King Geolge III. in America. Pie,
though of English origin, was popular in New
England. Pumpkin pie, cranberry pie, ,huckle-
berry pie cherry pie, green currant pie, peach,
pear and plum pies, Marlborongh-pudding
pie, pies with top crust and pies without. pies
| with Outings and strips across and around,
and mincc pies! The Puritans were, indeed,
a PIous people. But the worship was a little
out Of the ordinary. IL was customary to re-
view the history OF the year. commencing the
| successes and thankful that the trials ana
tnbulations were not greater than could be
borne.
We live in an age of ease and prosperity in
comparison. Would il not be we'll for as TO
pause and reflect? Here In Washington our
westerly winds bring us the warmth of the
orient. Our genial sunshine is in marked
contrast TO the leaden SKY OF New England on
Il Thanksgiving afternoon. Our fertile soil
responds TO the intelligent hand of industry
with amazing quickness, while that OF New
England, chilled by frost ard weighted by
stone, tills mind and body with discourage
ment. Without capital and without expe-
rience yet with hope and abounding health,
our iorefathers won their bread by the sweat,
of the brow and were thankful How much
more, men, snould we, enjoying tne accumu-
latlon OF Skill wisdom ana wealth. rejoice
ana express our gratitude! me iuXurles OF
| the Old world are brought to our doors with
less eXertion than the necessities of life fifty
years ago. me evening paper collects the
news ifpin aii hatlons ana y Drought 70 our
homes loi less than the cost OF the olu-lash-
| toned light necessary to read 1t. The infiu-
ence of the Boston News Letter kindled a
! name ID the crisp atmosphere oi New Eng
land whlch mas spread through the length
ana Dreadtn OF our iahd Inc power OF the
| newspaper To-Day IN moldlng pubic opinion
Is fell from the family hreslde TO the senate.
The power OF the press 10 avert war, to foster
! science. 10 promote religion ana education, is