Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1906-11-29

In the busy rush Of living very feV
people find time to be thankful for o
realize the everyday and vital blesf
ings that are curing in upon them
The Purltans must have recognises
this even in their day, when they in
augurated custom that has becom'
as firmly fixed az the constitution o
the United States. While the ad
herents Of the Pilgrim church. whicl
was exiled from England In 1908 ant
sent a colony over to New Englant
in the Mayhower In 1890. are unques
tionably to be credited with our ma
tional Thanksgiving day, which ap
peals 10 deeply to the heart Of the
patriotic American, the custom oi
Thanksgiving was undoubtedly sug
gested by the Hebrew Feast Of the
Tabernacles" or Feast Of Ingather-
ing" at the end Of the year. Occa-
sional thanksgiving was not unusual
In Europe.
After the first harvest Of the colon
lists at Plymouth in 1921 Gov. Bradford
sent four men out fowling that they
might rejoice and celebrate in feast
ing together. In July, 1923, a day Of
fasting and prayer was appointed on
account Of the drought Rain came
while the people were praying and the
governor appointed day for thanks
giving which was observed with re-
llgious service. There was similar
change Of fastday into Thanksgiving
in 1881, when supplies came from Ire
land. All Of these earlier appoint
ments, however, were made at various
seasons Of the year and for special
PROFESSIONALLY for the timely ar
rival OF ships with supplles-but in
later years on account Of the harvestS.
This substantiated q flxed Thanksgiv-
ing day late In the fall after the har-
vest time was over, and also, the cele-
brstion Of the day by FIRST q religious
service and then a feast. When the
revolutionary war began Thanksgiv-
ing had become national holiday and
was annually recommended by con-
gress. However, after the general
thanksgiving for peace in 1884 there
was no national appointment until ,
1859, when President Washington by
q request Of congress, recommended
setting aside q day Of thanks for the
adoption Of the constitution. In later
years, during the civil war, Lincoln
issued q proclamation recommending
q special thanksgiving for victory in
1862 and 1858. Since then proclama-
tlons have been made By the president
and governors of the various states,
and custom has fixed the date on the
last Thursday In November
It is 2s4 years since that FIRST
dinner in New England
was eaten, but to many Of rs the
aroma OF the turkey as We gather
around the table, surrounded BY fam
Ily and friends TO offer up thanks for
ne abundance Of worldly goods with
which our households have been sup
Piled, win recall the legends Of the
I'D New England days and review the
,ustoms Of that Thanksgiving In Ply
mouth IN 1881. With a little stretch
4 The imagination one can almost dis
,sfn that thr0nE Of s0ber-looking J
'oarded men. clad n dark colored gar. Z
usnts and wearing steeplecrovned
lats. with here and there among them 7
hs women With quantity shaped hoods 4
~ DEVOID Of ribbons. iswelry and or 4
Ianeni1 Il Was such . gathering a1 ,
BE that Hester PRIME fnced when c
cnfsnnsf 70 wear ne scarlet istisr. 4
'lsra and uarcIeulinF- -IhrnaalTc1 11. I