The new age., 1906-11-24

This festival is of Puritan origin,
though the custom of giving thanks Tor
favors of the field and stall has prevailed
as far back as written records go; with
the Greeks and even the Egyptians IN
their feasts to Demeter and Iris, with the
Romans in their Cerealia, and with the
Jews in their Feast of Tabernacles. Com
ing down to more modern times, we read
Of public thanksgivings in Germany, Hol-
land, and in England, the recollection OF
whose Harvest Home" perhaps, inspired
the Puritans to inaugurate the custom
Though pious and devOut, our New
England ancestors were yet rigid non-con-
formists, hence their rejection of Christ
mas as a relic of popery; yet the yearn-
ing of the heart for a religious and family
festival had to be satisfied, and so they
instituted Thanksgiving Day, which they
appointed after the gathering in of the
harvest, when, the main work of the year
being accomplished, families sundered
might assemble in the homes of their eld-
ers and give themselves up to a short sea-
son of solemnity and mirth.
The first Thanksgiving, according to the
well-credited chronicler, Edward Winslow,
was held in 1921, ten months after the
landing of the Pilgrims, when, the crops
being garnered, they felt spring up with
in their hearts a feeling of praise and
Thanksgiving 1t lasted almost a week,
and was participated in by King Massa-
soft and ninety of his braves, who were
feasted and entertained for three days,
the newcomers showing their guests their
proficiency in arms, expertness in wrest-
ling, etc. But we may imagine that the
feelings of the Pale Faces were not wholly
mirthful as they disported before these
grim and stolid Red Men. To show their
prowess in turn, "the Indians went out
and killed five deer, which they brought
to the plantation and bestowed on the
Goyernor and appn CAPTAIN Miles Stand
ish and others, a fine contribhtion to the
feast.
But, although thus inaugurated, the
custom was not thoroughly established for
some time. Days of thanksgiving were
appointed in the different colonies by diff
ferent Governors for various occurrences
the safe arrival of ships bringing loved
relatives, provisions, etc. for seasonable
weather, rain after long droughts, and
safe deliverances from perils and foes.
These, of course, were at different periods,
but most of them occurred in October or
November, after the harvest.
On the day appointed, families being as
sembed. they remembered first their duty
to thank the "Giver of every good and
perfect gift" publicly, for His bounty
during the year; and so repaired early to
His house to observe public worship.
But when the family and guests all met
on Thanksgiving Day around the hos
pitahle board, there was no lack. but a
superabundance, of viands and tempting
pastries, game, turkeys and chickens,
wholesome vegetables and inviting fruits.
The good wives We'd with each other in
tSeir preparation of toothsome delicacies
indeed, some of them were famed through
out the colony for their culinary skill. To
be good housewife in those days, and to
look well after the welfare and comfort
of her family was considered woman's vo-
cation.
Thanksgiving Day did not become a ma
tional observance until some time after
the nations separate life was assured.
There was a general thanksgiving for
peace in 1874, but none of a national
character until our first President, by re-
quest of Congress. recommended one. in
11SS, to celebrate the adoption of the Con-
stitution. In 1895 there was a general
Thanksgiving for the suppression of insur-
rectiOn in several States, and in 1915 one
for the termination of our second war
with England.
But these were sporadic instances.
! Governors of the different New England
States often issued proclamations for the
observance of the day, until. between the
church and state, it grew there into an
snnual festival. Twice during the Civil
War. President Lincoln issued pr0clama-
tionS for general Thanksgiving 1862
and 1868. because of abundant hrrvess IS
and certain victories. though in th,. former
year the war cloud WAS still without a
show of a silver lining.
Nov. >. 1860, a national thanksgiving
! for peace was held, which was more gem
orally observed, and perhaps more heart
lily, than any which had preceded it. Since
then the custom has become annual-the
President, followed by the Governors oi
the different States, issuing proclamations
for the last Thursday in November.-Il
Illustrated Home Journal.