The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1908-11-26
THE FEAST OF INGATHERING

/ peoples of our race and the peoples OF
! antiquity as far back as recorded tim,
carries us. In our own country tbi.
festival originated in New England
and was tho Thanksgiving of the Pill
grim Fathers at the ingathcring OF
their first harvest. 1t was for genera
lions perpctnatod as peculiarly New
England feature, but gradually spread
with the spreading OF the New Eng
landers. all over tho North and finally
affected the South also, until now
Thanksgiving is the National harvest
feast, the day Of giving thanks for the
abundance of the year, and for the
prosperity and hoaltb of tho people
Various proclamations OF different
kinds, thanksgiving and otherwise. for
special events have been issued from
time to time by rulers and by presi.
dents, but this particular idea Of issu.
ing a Thanksgiving proclamation has
only within tho past forty-fve years
become general as coming from the
President TO all the Nation. Up to
that time it was mostly matter for
the Governors Of the States, and good
many of those Governors neglected
Thanksgiving altogether. Now, how
ever, it has become a firmly fixed Gus
tom for the President to issue a
Thanksgiving proclamation, and we
think that all the Governors of the
States now follow his lead
The past year has been one of mixed
conditions throughout the country. A
year ago we were plunged in the depths
Of currency stringency that had the
effects Of a genuine panic, and which
brought ruin 10 thousands OF people
who had been supposed TO be in good
circumstances, if not absolutely of great
wealth. Those conditions continued for
good while, but gradually the under
lying, latent strength Of the country
began to assert itself, and conditions
gradually changed until we have now
a return In large degree of the former
prosperity; prosperity that seems, as
wo look back upon it, to have been
necdlessly interrupted. And so wo give
thanks for the passing of that dark
cloud and for the return of the sun of
prosperity which shines brightly upon
us. even though it NAV lack something
of the brilliance which it manifested
prior to that severe obscuration of his
bright beams.
In Utah we have especial reason to
be thankful; first of all for the return
in large measure of the prosperous con-
ditions which existed up to the time
of the currency stringency. In fact,
Utah suffered from that stringepcy in
far less degree than did most parts of
the country, Salt Lake City, it has
often been remarked, weathcred that
storm better than any other city of the
United States. 1t has also been a year
of prosperity TO the farmer and the
stock raiser. Latterly it has come TO
be also a year of splendid prosperity
TO the miners. Counting from this time
II year ago. for q number of months
the mines were in an eclipse; prices
fell, and there was great uncertainty
ing is once moro on an advance. and
the mining men Of Utah are enjoying
the sun of prosperity in marked de,
gree and with a brilliant outlook and
high hope for even greater mining
prosperity than has ever been enjoyed
in this State. Last OF all, and most
recent, we have abundant reason to be
thankful for the magnificent storm
which prevailed for two days. and
which has given us such deposit Of
snow in the hills and valleys as has not
beeu known for generation at so
early a time IN the season, In fact III
residence of upwards of thirty.two
years here VIC have no remembrance of
any such depths Of snow in any one
storm as is now newly fallen, in any
year or at any time of any year. And
it is the early snow that counts. That
is the snow that packs solid and hard
in the hills, and is lasting in the melt.
ing days Of the spring and early sum
mer. The prospect for an abundant
season next year in all lines Of indus.
trial progress is better than at any
time within the knowledge of man in
this State; because never before was
there such an early and tremendous de-
post of snow as there is now.
In all lines OF moral, political, re-
iigious, and educational effort. we note
an Improvement, IA reaching out for bet
ter things on all hands. And from
every quarter progress is made also in
all these lines, q splendid. progress that
is as gratifying 10 the heart as il is
beautiful TO see. The world is getting
better and better all tho time. although
there is often occasion TO find fault
with the slowncss of this bettcrmcnt
aud with unsatisfactory condition from
time TO time. And yet there is never
time when such complaint could not
be made and such impaticncc felt. So
that as long as the progress is uniformly
upward, even though that progress is
not as swift and sharp as ono could
wish, it Is still most satisfying 10 note
that II j.. in fact, actual progress. and
tina; the human race is better Oh aud
has higher aspirations now than ever