The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-28

fshing touches to the course, and 1t may safely be assumed that there was no one who left the first Thanksgiving dinner table hungry. The biggest ban auet of all was given on Saturday to wind up the celebration, and as the weather was extremely windy the tables were set out in the forest and an al fresco feast enjoyed which furnished the Indian guests with an exalted idea of the gastronomic accomplishments of their new friends. The celebration was wound up, as 1t was commenced, with a service of praise and prayer. which also greatly impressed the Indian visi- tors.
 N Frankiin,s Interesting Account. Franklin has left an interesting ac- count of the origin of Thanksgiving in America, which is not without his
 humorous touch, and which, like most of his similar writings, Is perhaps not as veracious as it might have been. There is a tradition" he wrote, that in the plantations of New England the first settlers met with many dificulties
 and hardships as is generally the case when a civilized people attempt estab- fishing themselves in wilderness country.
 Being piously disposed, they sought relief from heaven by laying their wants and distresses before the Lord in frequent set days of fasting and prayer. Constant meditation and dis course on these subjects kept their minds gloomy and discontented; and,
 like the children of Israel. there were many disposed to return to that Egypt which persecution had induced them to abandon.
 At length, when it was proposed in the assembly to proclaim another fast, a farmer of plain sense rose ana remarked that the inconvenience they suffered, and concerning which they had so often wearied heaven with their complaints, were not so great as they might have expected. and were dimin-- ishing every day as the colony strengthened; that the earth began to reward their labor and to furnish lib- orally for their substance; that the seas and rivers were found full of fish, the air sweet the climate healthy, ana, above all, that they were there in the full enjoyment of liberty, civil ana religious; he, therefore, thought that. reflecting and conversing on these sub- iects would be more comfortable, as tending more to make them contented with their situation, and that 1t would he more becoming--the' gratitude they owed the Divine Being if. instead Of fast. they should proclaim a thanks giving.
 His advice was taken, and from that day to this they><have. in every year, observed circumstances of fe- licity sufficient to furnish employment for a thanksgiving day, which is, there fore. constantly ordered and reiisiousiy observed"
 Congress Suggests Observance. While Thanksgiving Day prospered in New England, it was not until the time of the Revolution that 1t became general. Then day of national thanksgiving was annually recom-
 mended by Congress. :. As we now have it, the festival dates from 1864, when President Lin- coin issued proclamation Tor set ting apart the last Thursday in Mo- yember of that year as day Of na- tional thanksgiving.
 In his proclamation, Lincoln says: Tt has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with. his guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and youchsaing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy who is in our own household. 2; Each succeeding President of the limited States has annually proclaimed a thankseiving day, and this is gen. erallv followed by similar proclama- tions by the Governors of the various states. The day, however, is not ob- served in every State, for in Arkansas, Colorado. Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana
 Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah,
 | Thanksgiving Day finds no place Tn
 tbe list of holidays by proclamation of their respective Governors.