Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-25
THANKSGIVING DAY.

Which wac NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. H
ianation OF an American presIaent was
the same day ~ the north which we
celebrate this yearNoy. 26th. 1883,
which, In the first year OF his admins
t~ration, George Washington set apart
ITO be devoted by the people OF these
states to the service Of that great and
glorious Being Who Is the beneficent
Author Of all the good that was. that
1t Or that will be- The president
waJ requested to make this proclama.
tion BY the joint committees ~ the
two houses Of congress,
The next Thanksgiving procLama.
tion was made about Elk years later
whom Washington designated a Thurs
day In February for the country 70
give thanks over the successful sup.
preston OF the whiskey i~nsnrrection.
Six different holidays were designat.
d BY Adams and Madison for fasting.
praise and Thanksgiving, but none 81
them occurred III November.
Outside Of these occasional celebra-
tons during the early history Of tho
United States and the religious OBJ
servations OF The day which. from the
earliest colonial times, were held N
New England by proclamation Of the
governors. the precedent for the mod
ern celebration Of the fourth Thurs
day In November was set by Abraham
Lincoln who established d custom
which each successive president has
followed.
The original Significance OF the day
which was thoroughly religious has
undergone a gradual evolution which
Ii largely due to the appropriation OF
The day BY the multitndinous COLLEGES
and universities of the country fol
their great athletic contests. especially
the modern football The attempt e
stem the tendency of Young America
In defeating the day 70 It's sports hal
not proven successful. They find the
old Greek method Of celebrating their
religious feasts with the Olympic
games far more tasteful than tina o.
the Pilgrim Fathers who disguissd
their thankfulness under 4 o sol
emn mien and spent The day In pray
81 and fasting. Many deplorc The
disinclination Of good people 10 OBJ
serve the religious character Of The
day moro heartily and feel that all
might find one hour to return thanks
10 "the great and glorious Being VIII
ii the author Of all good" Undoubt
eddy worship should hold a place II
the day along with biz dinners AMI
athletic games. But in the inclination
10 make the day 4 tipc 70
recreation there is good 4 BE seen
II there Is any thing which the Ameri
an people need II IN more recreation
more relaxation. We live too har,
and too fast. We work constant,
under too great a strain. No pcopl'
la the world have ever lived thei
daily lives under the tension Of Til
present generations OF Americans
The European gives a far create
place ID his life 10 recreation thai
we do on this side Of the water, On
besetting sin Is the rush and hurry Il
which we live Therefore 1t seem
that the tendency 70 give q lions shar,
OF Thanksgiving day to recreation !
mot to be condemned, The assembling
OF the people In places OF worship 70
praise and thanksgiving to God TO
his goodness and particularly for IN
great prosperity Of the most favore'
nation that IN esun ever shOne upon
this should ever remain a distinguish
Ing feature OF the day, And We ca
trust 10 the enlightened Chrisiianit
OF the American people 10 prescry
In rs best Significance the day q
Thanksgiving this e%ssenitals