The Bossier banner., 1909-02-25

Americans who are not self
made go back to the old home
to eat saleratus biscuits aud marvel
how much nearer to the porch the old
pump looks than it used to. Bless the
day! President Roosevelt gives it to
us. We hear some talk Of the Purl
tans, but don't just remember who
they WERE But he can lick 'cnl. any
how, If they try to land again. Plym-
outh Rocks: Well. that sounds more
familiar. Lots of us have had to come
got its work In. Bet somebody in
Washington is leaking out advance in
formation to 'em about these Thanks
giving proclamations.
The big city east Of the cranberry
bogs has made Thanksgiving day an
institution. The last Thursday in No
vember is the only day in the year on
which 1t recognizes the part Of Ame-i-
ca lying across the ferries. 1t Is the
one day that Is purely American-yes.
a day of celebration. exclusively Amer
lean.
And now for the story which is to
prove to you that we have traditions
on this side Of the ocean that are be-
coming older at much rapider rate
than those Of England are-thanks to
our ''git-up" and enterprise.
Stuffy Pete took his seat on the
third bench to the right as you enter
Union square from the east. ut the
walk opposite the fountain. Every
Thanksgiving day for nine years he
had taken his seat there promptly Mt ]
o'clock, for every time he had done 30
things had happened to him-Charles
Dlckensy things that sweiied his waist
coat above his heart and equally on
the other side.
But today Stuffy Pete's appearance
at the annual trysting place seemed to
have been rather the result OF habit
than of the yearly hunger which. as
the philanthropists seem to think. at
f1icts the poor at such extended inter
| walls.
Certainly Pete was not hungry. BE
had Just come from feast that had
left him of his powers barely those OF
respiration and locomotion. His eyes
| we're like two pale gooseberries firmly
imbedded in a swollen and gravy
/ smcurrd nasK OF putty. His breath
came in short wheezes. A senatorial
roll Of adipose tissue denied a fashion
able set to his upturned coat collar
Buttons that had been sewed upon his
! l~yvH Salvation AnOorc 4
week before few like popcorn, strew'
ing the earth around him. Ragged he
was. with split shirt front open t.
the wishbone. But the November
breeze, carrying fine snowhakes
brought him only grateful eoolness
for Stuffy Pete was overcharged with
the caloric produced by superbounti
| full dinner. beginning with oysters anG
ending with plum pudding and in
cluding. 1t seemed to him. all TIN
roast turkey and baked potatoes and
chicken salad and squash pie and ict
cream Of the world. wherefore he sat
gorged. and gazed upon the world witt
after dinner contempt.
The meal had been an unexpected
one. He was passing red brick man
sion near the beginning Of Fifth ave
nue., in which lived two old ladies o.
ancient family and reverence TO
traditions They even denied the ex
istence of New York and believed tina
Thanksgiving day was declared soiel!
for Washington square. One Of thei
traditional habits was to station
servant at the postern gate with order
to admit the first hungry wayfare
that came along after the hour Of nooI
had struck and banquet him to I'm
ish Stuffy Pete happened to pass b.
on his wa to the park, and tn
seneschals gathered him In and up
held the custom Of the castle.
After Stuny Pete had gazed straigh
Eera-r him for ten minutes he wa
conscious of desire for a more varie
field OF vision. With a trelnendou
effort he moved his head slowly to th
left. And then his eyes buiged on
fearfully, and his breath ceased. an
the roughshod ends Of his short LEG
wriggicu and rustled on the gravel
For the old gentleman was comm
across Fourth avenue toward hl
bench.
Every Thanksgiving day for min
years the old gentleman had CON
there and found Stuffy Pete on hi
bench. That was Il thing that the ol
gentleman was trying to make trad
tion Of Every Thanksgiving day fe
nine years he had found Stuffy thel
and had led him to restaurant an
watched him eat big dinner. They
those things in England unconsciousl,
But this is young country. and mir
| years is not so bad The old gentl
man was stanch American patrit
and considered himself a pioneer
American tradition. In order to b
come picturesque we must keep q
> doing one thing for a long time Wit
out ever letting 1t get away from q
, something like collecting the week
, dimes i'm industrial insurance or clea
ing the streets.
The old gentleman moved straigl
and stately toward the institution TIL
! he was rearing. Truly the annual fee
ing of Stuffy Pete was nothing q
tional in its character. such rs Il
Magma Charta or jam for breakfa
was in England. but It was step.
was almost feudal 1t showed at lea
that custom was not impossible
1 New Y-ahem!-America.
The old gentleman was thin and t:
: and sixty. He was dressed all In bia'
and wore the old fashioned kind
g glasses that won't stay on your nOs
= His hair was whittier and thinner tn,