The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-24
A DAY FOR TnArKFULNEss

A DAY FOR THANFkFULNEss.
 For many reasonn many people will today feel really and truly thankful not the least among them being the goodness of an alI-wise Creator in sparing them to see another return of the day which has come to be regard" cd in this land as among the most im- portant of all holidays. and one which carries with 1t memories and associa- kions belonging to no other of the many days we celebrate.
 when the stern Puritans cs New England harvested their first crop in 1891 they were so rejotced that their lives had been spared and that the earth had yielded her fruits for their use that, acting by order or direction of Governor Bradford, they met and rejoiced together with prayers and songs of praise. Surrounded by pri- meval woods, from which the red In- dian peeped with wondering eyes, these hardy pioneers, attended by the wives and children, and carrying loaded guns in their hands. wended their way to their places of worship and formally and devoutly held the first Thanksgiv- ing services in the New World. Two years later they were visited by a se- were and prolonged drought which threatened them with famine. To ward off the great calamity which stared them in the face day of fasting and prayer was held. but the rains descend- ed during the services and the day was turned to one of praise and devcut thanks for Heavens blessings.
 It is a mistake to suppose that this peculiar day is one of remote origin. however, although. as we have seen. it was celebrated almost three centuries ago. It has not been generally ob- served. as some seem to suppose. If is true that after the adoption of the Federal Constitution Washington rec commended that a day of Thanksgiving be generally observed, but 1t was not until 1868, when President Lincoln is- sued proclamation for national ob- servance, 60 far as his authority ex- tended at that time, that the custom was fully established. Other Presi- dents after Washington occasionally proclaimed or recommended the observ- ance of such a day, but there was no regular annual appointment until Lin- coin set the example which has since been followed by all Presidents,' and the Governors of all the States follow the example of the President, thus making the observance general.
 Certainly the people of the United States have many causes for gratitude and thankfulness. Rarely have they been blessed with. better or more gem eraI harvests than have been gathered this year. If old mother earth has not exactly laughed with harvest she has certainly yielded bountiful returns to those who have titled the soll, and in all the length and breadth of our land there is no need for any to go hungry unless through their own fault. Nor have we been less notably blessed in other respects. Plague, pestilenca and famine" have passed us by no wars have devastated our soil, and no widespread calamity has visited us. As a people we have been blessed above all nations of me earth.
 Nor have we less local cause to be thankful. Rarely has a city the size of Montgomery been blessed with such exceptionally healthy conditions as we have enjoyed during the year. While there are individual cases of mourning the general health and prosperity of the city Is and has been unusually good, and the people of Montgomery, taken as a whole, have such cause for thankfulness as is rarely granted to the inhabitants of large city.
 And while ali of us. in our own ways, enjoy the blessings of, the day. and partake of the good things provided for us. let all who can do so see that the poor, the needy and the unfortu- nate are not forgotten, but that they. also may have cause for thanks that they are not forgotten or neglected. So shall the occasion be a Thanksgiv- ing Day in deed and in truth