The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-11-27
THANKSGIVING DAY.

MOT MUCH LESS than 200 years ago
IN a. little band of exiles from their
native land inaugurated a custom that
has come down to US through the long
vista of years, a custom that has
grown in favor until more than 10000
coo of people unite in honOring it.
Thanksgiving day was more than a
name to the Plymouth colony in 1871.
And yet. measured by modern stand
ards, the pilgrims had so little to be
thankful for.
Far from home, surrounded by sus-
picious and all but hostile Indians. their
ranks decimated by illness and priva-
tions.
Amidst the storm they sang,
And the dim stars heard, and the sea.
And the sounding aisles OF the dim
wood rang
To the anthem of the free
And as they sang and Toasted. as they
rejoiced and gave thanks 90 the Giver
Of all good and perfect gifts. the pill
grims forgot their lardships, their
inconsistencies, their sufferings. They
had wrested from the wilderness a foot
hold and had laid the foundation of the
greatest nation the world has ever
known. They buiIded better than they
knew.
Today. as we celebrate and give
thanks, each after his inclination, let US
remember the Pilgrim fathers who es-
tablished their lodges in vast wilder
ness in order that themselves and their
posterity might be assured of the bless
ings of freedom. If the pilgrims had
reason to be thankful for their meager
harvests and their scant share of the
things that make life worth living, how
can it be possible for men and women
of this year 1902 to withhold express
sions of gratitude for the blessings
they enjoy?
Some of us may feel that we have
small reason for thanksgiving, but
whoever looks for a reason in the right
spirit will surely find it. Here in Salt
Lake many a table viii be cherries,
many a heart will ache at the recollec-
ton of better, brighter Thanksgiving
days, but the dinner is only an outward
and visible manifestation and the sor-
rowing heart may find comfort in
bright hopes for the future
Better is a dinner of herbs where
love is" wrote the wise man of old,
than a stalled OK and hatred there
with" The most bounteous table is not
always the table where the happiest,
the most truly thankful company is
gathered. Envy and discomfort and
woe enter the mansion as well as the
cottage, and the family that win today
eat chuck roast instead of turkey is
often happier than the household that
viii be served with all the good things
money can procure.
The Herald didn't begin these re-
marks with the idea of preaching a SER
mon on Thanksgiving. The churches
viii be open this morning and the ser
mons will be delivered there for all
who care to hear them. We desire to
remark that our best wishes for a joy
Gus celebration are extended to all our
friends, and our enemies, too, for the
matter of that, though we don't think
! enemy" is a nice word to use on
Thanksgiving day.
May your turkeys all be done to a DEL
icate brown, may they taste as good as
they look; may the pudding be tooth
some and wholesome, and NAV you
all escape every pang which injured
nature occasionally sends to remind us
of our indiscretions. And finally, in the
words of Tiny Tim, God bless us every
one"