The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1908-11-27


they know nothing of their origin.
We give below clear and con-
densed account Of how Thanksgiving
Day, which this year we celebrate on
Thursday Nov 26, was established
and it would be good idea to have
it read in the schools, SO the children
may know of the history of this, one
of our most cherished holidays.
Thanksgiving Day is a peculiarly
American institution. History, it is
true, informs us that the pious peo-
pie of Leyden, Holland, observed a
day of Thanksgiving as early as 1875,
to commemorate the first anniver-
sary of the raising Of the seige of
that city In 1923 day of fasting
and prayer was appointed on ac-
count Of the drought. Rain came
abundantly while the people were
praying and the governor appointed
a day of Thanksgiving which was OBJ
served with religious exercises.
The first recorded Thanksgiving,
appointed by authority in America,
was proclaimed in Massachusetts, bay
in l 81. Owing to the great scare
ity of provisions and consequent
menace of starvation, the 22d of
February was designated to be OBJ
served as a fast day. Before that
date a long-expected vessel arrived
from Ireland, loaded with provisions,
and the fast day was changed into
a day of Thanksgiving.
Benjamin Franklin relates that in
time of great dependency among
the first settlers Of New England IT
was proposed in one of their public
meeting to proclaim a fast. an
aged farmer rose and spoke OF pro-
voking Heaven with their complaints
and of the many mercies they had
received and of the causes they had
for giving thanks. He then made
motion that instead of appointing a
day of fasting, they should appoint
day of Thanksgiving. To this the
assembly readily agreed.
Massach was the first of the
colonies to appoint an annual thanks
giving by the proclamation of the
English governor. During the rev.
olution Thanksgiving day was ma
tional institution, being annually
recommended by congress; but after
a general thanksgiving for peace in
1854 there was no national appoint
ment until 1889, when Washing-
ton, by request of congress, recon-
mended day of thanksgiving for the
adoption Of the constitution. Wash
ington issued second proclamation
of Thanksgiving in 1895 on account
of the suppression of instruction.
President Madison. by request of
congress, recommended a Thanksgiv-
ing for peace in 1915, but official
recommendation Of a day for giving
thanks was mainly confined to New
England until the year 1917, after
which day it was regularly appointed
by the governor of New York. In
1855 Governor Jackson, of Virginia,
recommended day of thanksgiving
but in 1857 Governor Wise, when re-
quested to do so, publicly declined
on the ground that he was not au.
thorized to interfere in religious
matters. During the war between
the states in 1863 and 1864, Presi
dent Lincoln issued proclamations
recommending national thanks
giving. Since then a proclamation
has been issued annually by the
President, as we'll as by the govern
ors of the various states and tn,
mayors of the principal cities, ant
custom has fixed the time as the las
Thursday in November.
In the early days Thanksgiving
was purely religious holiday. Late
on it became the occasion for annua
family reunions and feasts, preced
ed by church services. Latterly i
seems to have been given over to tn
; foot ball players, just as Decoration
day has been appropriated by tn
; bicyclists. Whether attending
foot ball game is calculated to max
men think soberly and seriously o
the blessings which have crowne
the year is question which, we ar
told, requires individual answer
Advocates of the great college gam
claim that the innovation is harm
less, yet not even the most enthu
siastic among them venture the as
, sertion that it has a tendency t
make anyone feel grateful for tn
bounties Providence has bestowe
upon him.