Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-30
GIVING OF THANKS
Annual Custom Observed
in Washington
GRATEFUL FOR BOUNTY
For Peace and Prosperity in
Our Own Land.
SERVICES IN CHURCHES
BENEVOLENCE EXTENDED TO
THOSE IN NEED.
Good Fellowship, Good Cheer - Feast
Follows Offering of Prayer
and Praise.
SERVICES IN CHURCHES
BENEVOLENCE EXTENDED TO
THOSE IN NEED.
Good Fellowship, Good Cheer - Feast
Follows Offering of Prayer
and Praise

By right of proclamation and grace of
long established custom today is set
apart as the thanksgiving time of the
American people. Feast day and day of
prayer it is "a time of silent retrospect,
of whispered thanks and gratitude. The
vast machinery of the government rests
motionless, the fires banked, the work
shops are deserted. And, in the world
famed centers of our business life dwells
silence. strange and unaccustomed, the
clamor of but yesterday hushed and
hreathless until the coming of the NOR
row.
over all this fair broad land it is the
same-north and south, east and west, in
city and in town, in hamlet and in village,
the doors of church and chapel are
thrown wide and the people of all creeds
pay tribute TO the bounty of the past. And
one who, for some reason close to him.
would scorn both day and sentiment, OBJ
serve the feast and lightly pass the
prayer, should find his argument and an
swer both near and far from home.
The nation wakes great in strength and
vital power in influence far-reaching and
for good, in ways that make for progress
and the interests OF the world. Heavy are
the harvests, rich and bountiful as never
before. won by a prosperous people from
the fruitful earth. Enormous are the pro-
ducts of bench and loom; the smoke of
countless mills and factories half OBJ
scures the sky. Deep and wide is the
mtnted golden stream that flows to our
shores from the heart of other lands.
Compare-and the answer is already
written. In another AnglOSaxon coun-
try across the seas the people cry for
bread, the sullen unemployed march the
streets In mobs, the forces of the govern
ns4INr, l. "a
European continent the war cloud hangs,
conditions are chaotic, the spirit of a ma
tional unrest stalks abroad In the far
east great armies slowly disperse, and the
thunder OF the great guns has but lately
ceased to mark the progress of bitter
and bloody war. ~ step further on and
bare ribbed famine treads a populous
land. So ii is to circle the globe-the rec
scourged and scorned, from post to pillar
driven. seem to have deserted the re-
mainder of the world to hover. smiling
and content, over these United States.
Feast Succeeds Prayer.
And so after the thanks have been said
today there is ample reason for the feast
to follow, the feast alike of the very rich
and of the very poor, the charity of the
one providing the days happiness of the
other Today, too. the eagle droops his
head detected and forgotten, and the great
annual sacrifice is crowned king of all
things feathered and toothsome
In Washington and elsewhere on this ma
uonal holiday good cheer and good fellow
ship prevail. reunited families. gather for
the feast, friendship and affection wait
soft-footed.s above the festive board And
here in the nations capital Thanksgiving
weather of the ideal type prevailed Clear
and cold and crisp the air brisk and brac-
ing the north wind, genial and warm the
smiling sun. A day to be thankful for just
in itself, fitting capstone of bounteous
year.
Down town today the quiet of a Sabbath
prevailed, the shops closed and deserted
the beehives of the government without
their weekday hum. Uptown the early
morning streets We're thronged and the
churches filed with those among the city's
population who observe the day for what il
really is-a true Thanksgiving time. And
after church a stroll In the sun-warmed tie.
mosphere. visits here and there, little jour.
neyings about the city for pleasure. anC
for profit, too. that appetite may not fai
before supply.
The Poor Remembered.
AS usual on this annual feast day, the
poor OF the nations capital were well pro
vided for. The various charitable organiza
tions of the city, the clubs and societies o.
religious and benevolent trend, all contrib
ute to the feast Of the poor. and of thost
as well to whom poverty is not only a con
dition. but a curse Baskets of vlands
complete in all save the cooking. were sen
20 thousands of homes Thanksgiving eve
and for those TO whom home is but
name. everything save appetite has beer
provided.
An interval most s!gnifcant-for the mid
day Thanksgiving meal has come to be q
custom in this town of ours-the streets this
afternoon again were nopulous More jour.
neyings Of pleasure, more visits more
walks and strolls with thousands at the
theaters, the foot ball games and elsewhere
pleasure bent and in the evening IN,
churches will again incIose their quota OF
the thankful and devout. Thanksgivin
comes but once year. but each succeed
ing time II seems to serve a better and !
worthier purpose In ,halting for the mo
ment the onward rush of the strenuous life
in giving time for thought upon the past
even as the New Year day calls up IN.
problems of the future.