The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-26
SOME OBJECTS. OF THANKS
Thanksgiving Day in Nova Variable Reasons for OGcs
hanks IN the United States The Scottish Highanders
Give hanks for a Special Reason

n 1EARL1 threc-quarters of g. CEN
VI tury before the American Con-
ttnental Congress publicly gave
thanks after the decisive battle OF the
War of Independence the Governor Of
Nova Scotia set apart a day for SINH
lar purpose, founded upon similar rea.
sons. It's object, like that OF the Ameri-
can Congress, was to express the graft.
tude of Il people who hud won In Il
great struggle.
Since then Nova Scotia has done
much the same ar It's neighbour. il
sets apart a day once each year to re-
feet upon Its uphuild,uE. when IT en-
phasises upon It's younger generation
the price paid by their forefatherB for
their home.
Nova Scotia. in fact, has just as
much cause for such a day as the Unit
ed States. Its early history is charac-
terlzed by Turbulence not equaled in
the worlds history By any other To-
cality. Aside from the many assaults
and scars II received from Indians,
pirates and privateers, 1t was actually
bes.eged by real warfare methods ana
changed hands thirteen times from It's
founding In 1904 to Its final conquering
in ITO.
Because or this 1, has been called
tho football OF the nations Dc Nonts
1rst planted the dag Of France on the
island in June. 1904, and was driven
Oft by the English under Captain
Arsall In 1913.
With the exception OF company of
Scotchmen, who held brief residence
there In 1879, there was almost con-
tinual dispute between the French and
English over It's possession. and 1t was
not until 1900 that the settlement be
gan to assume tho proportions of a
town and became dignificd by the name
II Port Royal. For seven years u,
French renamed n peaceful posses
sion, then came Siege which culmin-
ated In the hnal control OF the island
by the British government.
Therein lay the incentive for Nova
Sco;.a's day OF thanksgiving. The
BEench garrison was commanded by
General Subercasc. one OF Frances
sreat lighting sons. and for two years
the British, under General Nicholson.
lay before the old fort and town, build
ing sicge works in winter and resum-
ing active operations IN summer.
Comparing them with modern mill
tary forces they were small In mum
bers. but the battle OF Port Royal is
garded as one OF the most stubborn
" fought on the American Continent.
The spring OF ITO found both sides in
a deplorabie condition. Throughout
that summer disease ana partial famine
racked the bodies of Subercasc and his
mon: the English had become worn
out by hard work and exposure, ha-
rasscd by Indians and rangers, and
torn and stricken down BY the ever
ready fire Of the French
The prlva,ion and the news of the
coming OF the English aid finally In
duced Suuercase TO accept terms OF
surrender General Nicholson vas I'm
pressed with subercase's defense, and
realizing that hts men could not have
withs,ood the hardships OF the APP
preaching winter. Issued a proclama-
lion calling upon the people TO pub
licly return thanks for the outcome
OF the struggle and appointed october
II. lIi0. as the day.
The nrst English service held in tho
chapel which had been built by the
French occurred on that day. conduct
cd By the garrison chaplain, Reverend
John Harrison. when, also. the new
name OF the town. Annapolis Royal.
was dedicated in honor OF Queen Anne.
General Subercase. though surrend-
er!ng the for, and town with q haugh-
~ dignity, added little wit TO the oc-
casion, and when he handed the keys
10 General Nicholson. said. Il do so,
hoping to give YOU a visit next
spring"
By these words General Subercase
strengthened the idea OF day OF an
nual thanks IN Nova Scotia. The fol-
lowing spring camc without Suher-
case. the following summer passed
without Subercase. though there was
constant dread. and with the approach
OF winter forbidding hostilitles the in
habitants again gave thanks on the
2lst day Of October for the years bless
ings and the absence or Subercase.
Since then their Thanksgiving Day
has been celebrated In somewhat
similar manner as in the United States.
Like our forefathcrs, Nova Scotia's an
ccstry used TO assemble in solemn
meeting in the town hall, where the
ears OF the children were made TO