The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-26

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The American Thanksgiving.
The waning year grows brown and gray
and dull.
And poets sing November, black and
Sere'.
But from the bounteous garnered har-
vest store.
With grateful hearts we draw Thanks
giving cheer.
In the American calendar of specially
appointed days set apart for the cele-
bration of marked events in our nation S
history there is but one other which We
consider of the same Importance as
Thanksgiving This is the day which
celebrates the victory of that spirit OF
independence so characteristic of the
American, the day beloved by the small
boy, the glorious Fourth of July.
The descendants of those sturdy Puri-
tan forefa Tiers and foremothers. who
originated this American version Of the
Jewish feast of the Tabernacle, the
Cerealia of the Romans. the Harvest
Home of the Saxon and Celt, have made
a wide departure from the obSerVances
of their ancestors, although they still
retain the institution, and certainly with
good and sufficient reason when we con-
slider how. blessings and bountieS have
been shoWered upon US, a hundred times
one hundred fold, since that little band
of less than hundred brave. courage
Gus, much-tried souls on that bleak New
England coast appointed day for SDe-
eial thanksgiving, because they were
still alive. free. and able to obtain food
and drink more than sufficient for the
barest necessities Of life; for half their
original number had died on account of
the terrible hardships they encountered.
In fact. we should celebrate our
THANKSGIVING with new and increasing
fervor each year. although perhaps not
in the same manner that the stern old
Puritan deemed most fitting.
The one feature "old families" still re
tain, and a form of entertainment most
desirable and suitable for the busy rest
less American, is the house party This
gathering should be as far as possible
from a formal or fashionable one, but
be more of a family assembly from far
and near. an "at home day to ones
own people, and the neighbOr without d
home. who finds it hard to be thankful
FOR the good times he sees but is not
Dartaker thereof
A Thanksgiving house party has adj
vantages over the Christmas gathering,
in most sections the season allows
outdoor entertainment for the guest and
there is yet abundant materials for the
decoration of the house which are in
expensive and appropriate. Guests who
arrive early will enjoy taking part in an
expedition in search of the autumn
leaves, hardy ferns, laurel red berries
and such available materials; and also
find pleasure in arranging these after
ward. This gives the honey feeling
SO grateful to the world-weary. and also
relieves the hostess very materially if
she is too busy with other matters to
assume this responsibility The long
sighted hOme-maker will provide for this
exigency, in measure, during her sum
mer rambles in the country; but nature
helps even the less prOvident by furnish.
ing the rich. brilliant autumn colOrs in
fruit and vegetable and nuts, and the
chrysanthemums are most essentially
the Thanksgiving flower.
THE THANK SEWING DINNER.
However elaborate and elegant the
dinner may be, there must be certain
indispensables on the Thanksgiving
menu. The turkey, of course, as every
body associates the two most naturally.
as being peculiarly American. And the
pumpkin pie, the golden crown of this
generous banquet. must not be omitted,
or the biquant little cranberry, which
doubtless was discovered by our New
England forebears in the marshes of
Cape Cod. Neither must the crisp, re-
freshing celery be forgotten as it has
close affinity to the toothsome Turk.
Baked potatoes white and sweet, apple
pie nuts. raisins and coffee: all these
make a dinner simple, wholesome. APP
petizing and in keeping with the day.
More may be added if one wishes to dis
play laVishnesS rather than good Taste
or a regard Tor hyS1enlc laws, out more
cannot be as honestly enjoyed from the
oldest to the youngest guest. With the
simpler v:ands none need be disbarred
on account of richness or indigestibil-
ity
The wife and mother who is the work
ing housekee3er as well, is unjust to
herself, her family and her guests if
she undertakes a more elaborate dinner
than her time, strength and resources
allow. That all may enjoy the dinner
H. f1-,~ f1a
herself not be too tired to further add
to the pleasure of the occasion by eat
ing, and enjoying as well as taking part
in the lively conversation of the table.
let everything be simDlified as much as
possible, so that there be no confusion
to make the guest conscious of an eff
fort to furnish entertainment.
Oysters on the half shell may aDpro-
priately take the place of soup and
serve as a fish course as well. This
course entails so little trouble where i
is possible to obtain the unopened oys-
tiers from the dealer, who will deliver
them opened on the half shell. sacked
on cracked ice. at a stated time. charg-
ing perhaps, an extra ten cents per doz-
en-, which any busy housewife will glad
ly pay. When ready to serve the oys-
ters it requires but a few seconds to
remove them from the ice to chilled
plate, half a dozen oysters for each
guest and place the half of lemon and
spray of parsley or cress in the center.
Vinegar catsuo and pepper sauce may
be placed on the table for those who
season their oysters with these, and pre-
fer to eat them as a cocktail.
Cranberry jelly may be made 'davs"
before it is needed and be all the better
for standing. The turkey is improved.
if the weather is cool enough. by stuff
ing and trusting it at least a day pre-
cious to its roasting, as the seasoning
in the dressing permcates the flesh more
trim y md r.
celery a day or two previous to the
feast, wrap in a damp white cloth and
lay on ice and YOU will have it as ten
der and crisn as it is sweet.