Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-20

the year 1921, when it came time
to harvest the crops. it was found
that the corn was good. barley In
differently coed and peas failure
because Of the drought and late SOW
ing but Gov. Bradford still believed
that there was cause for thanks. and so
sent out four men to shoot wild fowl In
order that the colony might, after
more special manner, rejoice And they
did rejoice. For three days they cele-
brated in the town room," where King
Massasoit and ninety Of his braves were
hidden that they too might enjoy the
blessings which had been bestowed upon
them Two years later, when the people
were bowed down in prayer and fasting
in the midst of drought, their sorrow
was changed into Thanksgiving by the
coming of rain during their prayers. And
so the custom of annually setting aside
one day on which to offer UP thanks
grew First the governors of the New
England states issued prOclamations, then
during the revolution a DAY of national
thanksgiving was annually recommended
by Congress. President Washington rec
commended such a day. and his example
was followed occasionally by subsequent
Presidents. In 1862 President Lincoln
made a proclamation for national ob-
servance, since which time ThanAs-
giving day has been regularly observed
and each year the proclamation by the
President Of the United states has been
the summons to all Americans to give
thanks for the blessings showered upon
them.
But though the American Thanksgiving
stands alone as to the manner in which
it is observed, at least at the present
time, it IS by no means the only thanks
giving observance which has been held
b. x,t, 1nF
arrival of our Pilgrim forefathers in this
country. and even after that time.
Through all time. and in all the countries
which have had a right to that title,
there have been special times set apart
when thanks were offered up for the
harvest Just gathered, and when the pro-
lection and aid of whatever God they
worshiped was asked for the coming year
and its crops.
In the PARKWAY days when Egypt was
at the height Of her glory there was even
then a day of feasting observed after the
ingathering OF the harvests. Those were
the days when the Egyptians worshiped
sun gods. OF these, Osiris became the
most famous. and his worship spread
gradually over the whole OF the land.
Osiris, or "Many-Eyed, was worshiped
as early as the fourth dynasty of Egypt.
or about 27OO Il. c., but does not seem to
have been universally hOnored until about
1900 3. c. He is said to have been the son
of Saturn and NJ, and was given by his
father in charge Of Pamyles. He became
king of Egypt. and Is accredited with
having civilized the Egyptians, and es-
pecially Of having taught them agricul-
ture. the culture of the vine and the art
of making beer.
By the side of Osiris stands Isis, who It
was believed in those times was the
mother. wife and sister OF Osiris. 1t is to
these two then that the husbandmen In
those ancient times gave precious oner-
ings. which were laid upon their affairs.
Sacrifices were offered up well as Of
ferings of corn. Wheat was the most i'm
portant grain crop OF Egypt. and con-
sequently the protection of the deities UNI
der whose protection this came was even
more than ordinarily important in the
eyes of the Egyptians. An interesting fact.
too. is connected with the manner In
which they harvested their wheat In
stead of reaping it in the customary man.
ner. the straw was cut just below the
head Of the grain. This was put in bags
and carried to the thrashing floor, where
it was trodden out by oxen. Even In the
few cases where 1t was reaped in the
usual manner the oxen were still employ
ID to thrash It.
Antedating the proclamation Of Gov.