The Washington times., 1901-11-29
DINED ON TURKEY
AND GAVE THANKS.
FESTAL DAY DULY OBSERVED.
Many Causes for Thanksgiving
Churches Hold Services and
HunGr, were FcG-tirst
Snowfall of the Season.

For the manifold blessings OF the year
and in response to the proclamation Of
the President of the nation. all Washing
ton yesterday returned thanks to the
giver of every good and perfect gift.
That is. nearly all Washington. for it
is true that there were some ingrates and
a few unfortunates who had so little to
be thankful for that it would have seemed
like mockery and sacrilege for them to
! haze offered up thanks. Happily, the
! number OF these two classes was not
| large. Nearly everyone found some cause
or other for gratitude, some mercy, some
favor some benison. which when balanced
against all that seemed otherwise, still
left a margin for thankfulness. In some
! cases It was large. in others small, and
it was not infrequent that in the latter
| the greater proportion of thankfulness
was shown.
Thankful in Many Ways.
Yesterday was the great national hoIi-
day for Thanksgiving. a day for feast and
for devotion. and in common with the
people throughout the length and breadth
OF the land the citizens of the Capital
celebrated it with their usual fervor and
enthusiasm. Their thanks found express
sion in many different ways. All of the
Government departments. all of the hanks,
and nearly all of the mercantile houses
were closed, and almoss everyone save
those necessary sdjuncts to civilized man
the cooks enjoyed day of rest and
recreation.
Some, the more religious perhaps. gath
cred in their respective places of wor-
ship and there publicly expressed their
thanks. The sanctuaries were crowded.
In sermon and song the Almighty was
praise for His bountiful blessings.
others less demonstTative, but equally
thankful sought places OF amusement,
many at the play houses and many others
about the gridircn. where action and ex-
citement united to cultivate appetite for
Thanksgiving Day dinners.
1t was about the festal board that all
met in common. 1t was great day for
the turkey. that American bird whose
popularity rivals that OF the mountain
eagle, and he sacrificed himself unon the
dinner table. the altar of the glutton and
the goTmandizer. 1t was likewise a grea
day for the tart little cranberry, the de-
lIcious pumpkin pie and the rich plum
pudding. These delicacies were spread
forth bountifully. and unfortunate indeed
were those unable 70 share them.
First snow of the Season.
When the day dawned the city was
mantled in an immaculate garb of white
The seasons first fakes Of the beautiful
began to fall shortly after midnight, and
when Weshingtonians awoke yesterday
morning they found the streets and the
house-tops covered with a spotless dress
OF white. The air was brisk and chill,
though bracing, but the snow was not long
TO remain. Old Sol soon appeared upon
the scene, and before his bright and shin
ing face the harbinger of winter 1ed with
swift feet.
1t was an ideal day, and the enjoyment
was likewise ideal and almost every cit
izen from the President in his White (
House home down to the humblest person, /
had some share in its pleasures. Even /
those to whom fate and fortune have been /
uakind had some occasion for thankful /
ness, for Dame Charity was busy with her !
mission, giving cheer and succor. Proba- /
bly, the greater portion of her work was |
done in secret, but some Of it vas done I
that men might see.
The Hungry Were Fed.
At the Union Mission, fer instance,
SEQ unfortunates were made glad, and /
their deyouring appetites sated with one
good square meal, in which turkey and
the other concomitants OF Thanksgiy-
ing Day dinner were supplied without
stint. Then there were made up 500 bas-
kets full and sent TO the homes Of the
deserving poor. At all OF the public in
stiJutions there was festal observance of
the day Even the inmates OF the District
jail and workhouse were shown special
favors, Notwithstanding their disregard
for the law.
Over 1900 pounds Of turkey. 500 nince
pies, 1000 punches of celery, and several
barrels of cider were disposed of by the
inmates of st. EliZabeth's. The asylum
cooks have been having a busy time for
the last two or three days. The meal
was sent to the various wards and ROOMS
to be eaten. The first dance of the sea
son was held in the chapel last night
The boys at the District Reform School
religious exercises presided over
b. G. 4. Shallenberger, the superin-
tJndent, at 10 in the morning, and re-
paired to the dining room directly after
ward.
Boys Had Good Appetites.
TIE boys amply testified to the fitness
Of their physical condition by the manner
in which they attacked the excellent din
ner of turkey and cranberry sauce
During the Thanksgiving services which
preceded the dinner Superintendent Shall
enberger read the Presidents procIaua-
ton to his charges. He told them the
meaning Of the day, and rccounted the
tales OF the FIRST Thanksgiving Day cele-
5rated in this country by the Puritans
who came over in the Msyilower
No Thanks at the .JnfI
No special fare was served to the prig-
'ners at the District jail. The duh rou-
Inc Of their daily life flowed on unln-
erruptei by such things rs cranberries
md turkey. They received only the usual
are OF the jail. The ministers who make
heir daily visits came as usual, and here
we're many visitors to the Institution.
The quiet OF the workhouse WIS not
by any unusual preparations
or gastronomic enjoyment, nor did its
alters ring with the merry laughter of
he inmates gathered round the festive
,Oard. Like the inmates Of the Jail. they
lad 20 pat in their time thinkins Of past
days, and OF what they
you'd DO 10 next years turkey