Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-11-29
Thanksojvjnu Day.

giving day falls in the dreariest season
| of all the year, but in the holiday itself
there is only the suggestion of what is
happy and hopeful, good and grateful.
Originating with the Pilgrim fathers
| on the shores Of Massachusetts bay
almost three centuries ago, Thanks
giving has survived the lapse of years
as have few of the customs of our fore
| fathers. The day is rich with tradi-
tons that are precious to us all. True,
| the religious observance that marked
tie day in former generations is now
| less prominent, but in it's essentials the
spirit of the holiday is the same as in
the Colonial times, the same as it was
| when Pre- sdent Washington issued the
first Thanksgiving proclamation, and
| the same as it was when the custom of
appointing a national Thanksgiving,
| was revived by President Lin
coin, since which time no year has
elapsed without such holiday being
designated.
The holiday has long been a national
one, still it is here in New England
and where the New England people are
found that the day means much more
than elsewhere. Here it is the real
Old Home day of the year and the
countless family reunions which mark
| the happy hours at the table and by
the fireside of the old home make it a
day long looked forward to and long
remembered. For the past two or three
| days the trains have been loaded with
| people bound back to the old home for
THANKSGIVING. and for days in those
OLD homes elaborate plans and prepara-
| tons have been under way. And
there is no spot so dear to the heart as
the old home on Thanksgiving day.
| There is much to commend in this
beautiful old custom. which is peculiar
setting apart this day at the close of
| the harvest season to celebrate the
| bounty of nature and to give thanks
to the Great Giver for the numberless
blessings we enjoy. Truly our people
have good reason to celebrate Thanks
giving day this year. The year has
been one of unprecedented material
prosperity throughout the land, our
country is at peace with all the world;
the great cause of honest government
has been splendidly strengthened, and
the future is bright with promise.
There has been loss and disaster and
suffering in the country just az there
has been everywhere since the old
world was made and just as there is in
Zach individual life, but for it all there
has been gain, compensation and
progress, and the balance was never
more heavily upon the right side than
il is today.
And each of US as individuals, if we
look over the record Of the year and
deal honestly with ourselves, can find
much to be thankful for today. We
get SO accustomed to the everyday
blessings of life, the good things
which we take as accepted facts and
whose value we in no measure realize
until we lose them, that it is fitting for
us occasionally to take time to think
them over and strive to gain some APP
probation of the great and unnum-
bercd blessings which we enjoy. Try
to think these things over today and
make Thanksgiving day mean a little
| more to yourself and those around you
than the eating Of good dinner anC
the enjoyment Of days holiday. Ant
do not forget that one of the surest
. ways to be happy and grateful is t
bring happiness and gratitude into tn
hives Of others. It would be a fine
thing if every American citizen would
read today soberly and carefully the
mole text of the Presidents proclama
ton setting apart this day as a day o.
national Thanksgiving. Here it is:
"The time Of year has come, when
in accordance with the wise custom %
our forcfathors, it becomes my duty t.
set aside a special day Of Thanksgiving
ard praise to the Almighty because o
, the blessings we have received, and o
prayer that these blessings may b.
continued. Yet another year OF wide
sprt ad well-being has passed. Neve
before in our history nor in the hIstor!
of any other nation. has people en-
loved more Astounding material pros
perity than is ours; a prosperity 81
general that it should arouse in us n
spirit of reckless pride, and least o. all
a spirit of needless disregard OF gu
RESPONSIBILITIES; but rather sobe
sense of our many blessings, and
t resolute purpose. under Providence, no
to forfeit them by any action OF ou
Town.
Material well-being. Indispensable
though it is, can never be anything hu