Evening star., 1903-11-25
PEOPLE GIVE THANKS
Origin of the Day Of General
Observance.
LANDING OF PILGRIMS
IN VARIOUS CITY
CHURCHES TOMORROW.
Charity Workers Preparing to Distrib-
ute Thanksgiving Dinners to
the Needy Poor.

sA&S AsSoy wa
Two hundred and eighty-seven years ago
November q, 1620-accordng to the pres
ent calendar weather-beaten ship lay
sheltered from the fierce, storm-tossed sea
behind the long neck of land, the extreme
point of which became known as Cape Cod
The vessel had been there several days. its
passengers making ready to land On this
day the boats were all ready and were put
off from the vessels side one at ume
When all those on board had been landed
a gray-haired patriarch called them all TO-
gether. and on the spot which became sacred
in American history Plymouth Rock the
first Thanksgiving service on American SOL
was held, where the wind and Sleet beat
down on the upturned faces of the simple,
liberty-loving people who had braved uh-
known dangers to reach the bleak shore
which gave them refuge.
Tomorrow, wherever citizen or the
United States is to be found, Thanksglv-
ing exercises will be held in all the
churches and in all the homes the daS
will be made one of feasting and rejoicing:
The first Thanksgiving service was feio
amid the most cheerIess surroundings. The
territory which is now the United STATES
was a trackless mass of forest ana pam.
No white man had habitatlon lOO niles
from tne COdSl, anu IlOtiuH5 was AiAO'''- ~
the interior.
Today, after almost three centuries OF
marvellous development, there is scarcely
corner that is not center OF the highest
civilization the world has ever known. AS
the march of progress has obliterated the
forests, cultivated the waste fields and
built up cities and towns, so II mas zone
away with the austerity of the gatherings
when thanks were given to the Supreme
Power for the blessings Of the year, and
Thanksgiving day has become holiday
that suggests only time of social enjoy
ment.
in the morning to devoutly express their
gratitude for those things they have re-
ceived for which they are thankful, ana Tor
protection from those things which might
bring deSOlation or suffering on family or
nation.
But after the short religious observance,
the air of solemnity departs and tn. ough-
out the length and breadth of the land the
time of the people will be given up to un-
alloyed pleasure. Games and picnics, horse
races and contests of strength and skill,
will largely occupy the time of the people.
When the sun has set and the shadows fall
the family thanksgiving will be held. The
fathers and mothers and sons and daugh-
terS will gather about a bountifully sup
piled table and tell of the hopes and am
bitions of the year and what they have ac-
complished.
First Observance.
The first national Thanksgiving day OBJ
servance Of which there is authentic record
occurred in 1851, when the governor of the
colony of Massachusetts, set aside Feb
ruary % as day on which all the people
within his Jurisdiction should give thanks
for the blessings they had received during
the year. Between 1851 and 1855 there were
twenty-nine such Thanksgiving days set
aside by the governing power. These days
were generally In the fall and most often in
the latter part of November or the first of
December. Under the government of the
United States the first designation Of
Thanksgiving day of which there is record
was December IS, 1777, when the American
army was encamped at Valley Forge. The
Continental Congress authorized the setting
apart of this day, and General Washington
issued general order to the troops in his
command to that effect. From then on to
1888 Thanksgiving day was an annual
event, proclaimed such by act OF the Con-
tinental Congress.
In 1850 Thanksgiving day was held on
exactly the same date as in the present
year, November 20. There is no record OF
an observance between 1888 and 1883. Dur
ing the eight years of Washingtons admin
istration as President there were four days
set apart for Thanksgiving. Adams had
none, nor did Jefferson. but Madison pro-
claimed four Thanksgiving days during his
administration. From then until 1868 there
was no special date set apart on which to
give thanks.
The War Periods.
During the wars in which the United
States were engaged between these dates.
or between the administrations of Madison
and Lincoln, there were number of proc
lsmations issued by the President for days
of fasting and prayer or special thanks
giving. 1t was left to Lincoln however, to
designate the last Thursday in November
as a day for national thanksgiving. The
OH the diSnppSatiOu
was held therefore on the last Thursday
in November, 1868. This record was broken
the following year, however, when the proc
lamation set apart August 9. Lincoln was
assassnated in the spring of 1865, and
President Johnson designated the first
Thursday in December as the Thanksgiving
day for 1865. The next year, 1885 return
was made to the last Thursday in NoveDl-
ber and ever since that time Thanksgiving
day has been on that day.
The program for the day in Washington
calls for a most diversified celebration
In every church of whatever denomina-
ton some form of observance will be
observed. In the afternoon crowds doubt
less will flock to the race track at one
end of the city and to the foot ball field
at the other. where teams of the George
town University and Lehigh contest for
supremacy on the gridiron.
The Work Of Charity.
Charity workers will be engaged all
day in distributing the contributions Of
the citizens of Washington who have a
suficiency to those whose means are such
that they are compelled to depend on the
charity of their fellows for their good
cheer. Hundreds of baskets will be sent
out during the day by the various chari-
table organizations In every school to-
day the children brought contributions
for the poor. In some Of the buildings
the aims of the scholars are in such
great quantities that several wagons are
required to bear the loads to the point
where distribution is to be made. In
other schools the quantity was short, but
the spirit of giving was just as sincere.
These supplies are all sent to the AS
sociated Charities, where they are sepa-
rated and made up into portions for the
various families that are to be supplied
Every possible sort and condition of thing