The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-27
Now For Thanksgiving.

pany, Chicago.
Now For Thanksgiving.
1t is time to be getting ready for
Thanksgiving. This distinctively Amer
lean holiday is a legacy left US by our
honest Puritan forefathers. 1t was from
it's very inception feast day.
Its first observance was in the fall OF
1921, when stern old Governor Bradford
in gratitude for a bounteous harvest
which followed period of sore distress,
proclaimed a day of thanksgiving and
feasting and in practical furtherance OF
his proclamation at once dispatched
four men in search of game. Then
game was not SO scarce as in these
with sufficient supply of game, prin-
cipally turkeys, to rejoice the heart OF
the brave little colony and satisfy their
wants for days to come.
In the hands of the thrifty housewife
these good things were transformed
into a very generous and surprising
list of dishes for the great day, or days,
for the ceremonies and feasting, includ-
ing the time of preparation, lasted
about a month.
The day would lose its significance if
devoted to selfish pleasure and gratifi-
cation only. Do not forget the less for
tunate and friendless, and those far
from home. There is no sadder day in
the year to the homeless American than
this holiday. Each one knows of some
one to whom THANKSGIVING would bear
a fuller meaning through the accept
ance of our hospitality.
INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMS IN FAM
lilies.
In one household of Knickerbocker
origin, after dinner has been discussed,
there is a good old-fashioned expert
ence meeting when each one of the
family ''reckons up his mercies," and
makes public announcement of what he
has to be especially grateful for.
An established custom in one of the
old Philadelphia families. where chill
dren and grandchildren gather from
least and from west" is to have the
coffee and fruit served in the family
sitting ROOM after the dinner.
The coffee. piping hot, is brought up
aunts and passed around by two of
the small children costumed in white
aprons and caps which are kept in
store for this festal occasion. The honor
of being cupbearer pro tenn. is much
sought after, the office being transfer
able from year to year.
In one New England home, fortunate
in the possession of a store of colonial
twentieth century dining room meta
morphosed into the replica of an
eighteenth century one. In front of the
spacious fireplace are the crane, pot
hooks and kettle, with the skillet, toast
er and baker standing on the hearth
On the shelf above are the cider tank
ard, iron candlesticks and tin lantern,
while along it's edge are feStOoned
the old Queens arm and powder horn.
The 1ngle-sideS are set forth with
spinning and flax wheels, warming pan
and bellows and quaint chairs, while
pewter plates and porringers, alman-
acs and samplers lend realism to the
scene.
SPECIAL ACCESSORIES.
While these are impossible for the
majority of our people, who are becom-
ing more and more nomadic in their
habits; all the decorations of table and
dining room should be in keeping with
the day. A pretty idea is to bank the
mantle with all kinds of fruits and
small vegetables, purple grapes, brown
checked pears, rosy apples, crimson
beets and golden squashes mingled with
oats, barley, ears of corn, autumn leaves
and scarlet berries.
moss and clusters of bitter sweet. Light
the table with candles placed in an
tique iron. brass or silver candleSticks,
and for the center piece, use your in
genuity in evolving a jardiniere made
from a small half pumpkin or cabbage.
If you use the pumpkin, cut the edges
in points, scoop out the center and fill
with fruit, striving to get the best color
effects. If only the cabbage is available,
strip off the coarse outer leaves, take
out the heart and fill the delicat ely col
ored green ball with yellow chrysanthe-
NUNS and the green of carrot, parsley
or ferns.
The bill of fare may be varied to suit