The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-12-01
THANKSGIVING.


Again at the close of the harvest
season we are called on by our Chief
Executive "to take Stock" like the
merchants, Of our blessings and mer-
cies during the past year. And it is
we'll that we should For the most
part we are poor bookkeepers in this
line, remembering full well to debit
the losses, the sick spells and the
petty ills we bear, but failing to credit
our lives, not only with the physical
resources of our granary and our
bank account, but with the tender
mercies received, the valued acquaint-
ances made, the impending evils
averted, and the many daily remind
ers of affection shown around our
hearthstones, which are countless in
number and priceless in value-
Just as America has set the pace in
many of the other valued customs of
intelligent society, so she established
the national thanksgiving day. The
liberty-loving Pilgrims had scarcely
set foot on American soil in 1920 be-
fore they stopped in their struggle
for existence to thank God for the
privilege of worshiping him with a
free heart and in a selEselected style.
though the groves were their tenn
pies, with a carpet of snowy white
to cover the floor, and the distrust-
full but wondering Indian to watch
them from the background. Asyears
rolled on and the colonies became
more of a unit, days of thanksgiving
were recommended by Congress be-
cause of success of the Colonial
armies; in 1917 it became an annual
festival in New York, and since 1868
has been national through the pro-
clamation of the President.
Compared with foreign nations,
our experience has been unique
while our swords have been forged
into pruning hooks, we have been
looking upon a Titanic struggle be-
tween two great nations, which was
finally concluded through American
craftsmanship; while we by battle
of ballots have quietly determined
our problems of government and Sc
lected our servants to execute them,
at least one great people have been
vainly seeking self-governmen t
through an army carrying the red
flag for its banner, and using the
torch, the dagger and the bomb for
its weapons.
Balancing our national ledger, we
carry to profit and loss account for
the year extraordinary harvests,
humming factories, labor taxed be-
yond its capacity, commerce reach
ing to the ends of the earth, and a
people united by the bonds of nation
81 IL I~-,aet,o "a
they have not been since the era OF
prosperity and good feeling under
President Monroe.
On this, our national thanksgiving
day, America knows no party, no
section; but as one man we thank
the Great Giver for his good gifts to
us and hope more and more to live
according to His golden rule.
The Egis is not unmindful of the
bountiful share of blessings which
have come its way during the past
twelve months, and gratefully ex-
tends its Acknowledgements to the
many friends who have so literally
extended their support. During this
period it has expanded in opportuni-
ties beyond its editors most san
guine hopes, and he sincerely trusts
that a generous clientage will not
find i'll the future that this confidence
has been misplaced.
Let us give thanks rs often as the
bigness of our hearts will permit,
and especially on Thursday, in the
words of tiny Tim, God bless us
every one"