The Forrest City times., 1908-11-20

day opened in this waterlocked land with great ringing of bells and over every shining doorsill there stepped into the crisp morning air the house holds full number. Each Hans or Gretchen clasp ing a silverbound prayer book, walked sedately to the various places of worship and there lifting up their sweet Holland voices, harsh, perhaps in speech, but full and round in song, up musical praise for the freedom of their land and the good things of the earth
 Church over, the entire population for the nonce broke through their usual stolidness and there was a general scampering of young feet in game or dance and clattering of older tongues in friendly gossip as neighbor visited neighbor or father wei. comed his large flock of grandchildren
 The great event of this Dutch Thanksgiving day was dinner. at which was served as central dish a queer stew of meat and vegetables which they called Spanish hodgepodge. For once in their prac- tieal lives the Hollanders became facetious and over this hodge podge they made merry and cracked jokes at their oldtme enemy-Span. The general 'hash-like' appearance of the hodgepodge was sup posed 10 represent the condition of the Spanish army when the Dutch had yanQuished if Even the children entered into the fun and kept their history fresh by gleefully slashing into potato or a turnip and chuckng they swallowed the nor sels, This is General oandSo-ah, Me eat him sot"
 Well the Puritans heartily approved of Inc earI, religious services of the morning and their healthy appettes could not fail to appreciate the Spanish hodSe'podge, however much they may have dis apPipNeu ol the sentiment which favored it. so they entered most heartily Into the Dutch Thanksgfy. ing Of October 8. h 1923 these Pilgrims held Oc. tober , as day of Thanksgiving in the New World and hero We have our first true American Thanks. giving day.
 This day has passed through many vicissitudas since that date There Is not festival on the al. manac. fixed or movable which has had the sfrug gle for existence that our November holiday has endured. @
 From 1923 until 163o Thanksgiving day was held Tn America in various months some of the Pilgrims Keeping to October and other colonists holding , different day by order of the governor.
 In l6S0 the people at Massachusetts were snfsar. }as Tor food and clothias and Gov Winthrop hired Inc good ship Lyon ta return to England for enr. paes- For many dasa the vessel lay stranded oY the Isle of Shoals. but finally put out Winter ear,o on apace and nothing was heard of the shin The colohists were nearly disheartened when on Fob tuary 22, l63l the Lyon was sighted. and tho go,, efheF ordered that the day ba given over to feast Ing and thanksglving This is the first written record of a Thanksgiving day in Boston. if can Stl be found in the Colonial Records of Nassact,, sets It Is an interesting fact that this first p lon thanksgiving Tfas held on what is now, opa of our most patriotic holidays. WashingtoDs bjrtbdaY
 The first record of joint celebration Inf rbart gFlhg day Is given ip the Colonial Records of 1eso when Gov Winthrop of Massachusetts bayN Naa1., the governor of Plymouth colony to join him in ts