Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1906-12-01

This festival Is Of Puritan origin,
though the custom of giving thanks for
favors Of the field and stall has prevailed
as far back as written records go; with
the Greeks and even the Egyptians In
their fensts 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 thanksgsings 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 cid
ers and give themselves up to short sea
son of solemnity and mirth.
The first Thanksgiving, according to the
well-credited chronicler, Edward Winsow,
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 week,
and was participated in by King Massa-
soft and ninety Of his braves, who were
| Toasted and entertained for three days,
the newcomers showing their guests their
proficiency In arms. EXPERIENCES in wrest-
ling etc. But we may imagine that the
feelings of the Pale Faces were not wholly
mir'hful as they disported before these
grim and stoid Red Men. To show their
prowess in turn, 1.-THE Indians went out
and killed five deer, which they brought
to the plantation and bestowed on the
Governor and upon Captain Miles Stand
ish and Others" fine contribution 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
rela lives, provisions etc. for seasonablt
wea Their. 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 OF
November, after the harvest.
Il On the day appointed, families being as
sembled, they remembered first their duty
to thank the "Giver of every good anC
perfect gift" publicly, for His bount,
during the year; and so repaired early t
His house to observe public worship.
But when the family and guests all me
on Thanksgiving Day around the hos
ptable board, there was no lack, but
superabundance, Of viands and tempting
pastries, game, turkeys and chickens
wholesome vegetables and inviting fruits
The good wives We'd with each other II
their preparation Of toothsome delicacies
indeed, some of them were famed through
out the colony for their culinary skill. T,
be n good housewife in those days, and I,
look well after the welfare and comfor
Of her family was considered woman's yo
cation.
Thanksgiving Day did not become a ma
tional observance until some time afte
( the na1ion's separate life was assured
There was a general Thanksgiving TO
peace IN 1854, but none Of a nationa
character until our first President, BY re
quest of Congress. recommended one, Il
1888, to celebrate the adoption Of the Con
stlluuOn. IN ltbO lnerc WAS n genera
thanksgiving for the suppression Of insur
rection in several States, and In 1915, on
for the termination Of our second wa
with England.
But these were sporadic Instances
Governors of the different New Englan
States often issued prociamations for tn
observance OF the day, until, between tn
church and state, 1t grew there into a
. annual festival. Twice during the Civ
War. President Lincoln issued proclams
lions for general thanksgivins-in 1856
and 1863 because Of abundant harvest
and certainvictories, though In the forme
E year the WIT cloud was still without
show Of silver lining.
Nov. 2 1855. a national thanksgivin
for peace was held, which was more ger
orally observed, and perhaps more heart
lily, than any which had preceded It, Sine
then the custom has become annual-th
President. followed by the Governors o
the different States, issuing proclamat ion
for the last Thursday in Noyember.-I
Illustrated Home Journal.