The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1911-11-25

western and southern states until aft
er 1850. .s.os
In 'Thanksgiving-Its Origin. Cele
bration and Significance" by Robert
H.. Schauffier, we read:
Troubles connected with. the civil
war suspended 1t for a time. as fast
days were more In accord with the
general feeling than feast days. But
In 1854 President Lincoln issued a
proclamation appointing the fourth
Thursday in November with view OF
having the day kept thereafter an
nually without Interruption. The presi-
dents assassination the next year al
most caused suspension Of his own
rule, but President Johnson appointed
the last Thursday In November. and
since that time each president has fol-
lowed his example," ~.
Since the sixties Of the last century,
therefore. Thanksgiving day has been
appointed for the. last Thursday OF the
month or November rather than for
the fourth Thursday. The point be-
comes one of interest and importance
In such years,as 1911. when November
has five Thursdays instead of four.
A little reflection will show, of course.
that this can occur only when either
Nov. or falls on Thursday.
The proclamation annually by the
chief executive Of n national Thanks
giving day, to be observed religiously
anu socially In recognition OF the
goodness of God in sending seedtime
and harvest. as well ms other bless
ings, is generally reg .rded by Ameri-
cans as peculiar to the United States.
But Thanksgiving day may be regard
ell as custom of worldwide observ-
ance. although the setting apart of the
same day In the year for a solemn
and joyous celebration is certainly Of
peculiarly American origin. There are
similar festivities In many countries.
The Jews when they had their ma
tional home in Palestine had days Of
The English. as has
been written. have their harvest
home" festivals. The French. Span
iards. Portuguese and other peoples
have their days Of rejoicing after the
Of the harvest and the vim
tage. The ancient Romans and Greeks
had their feasts to the gods OF the
harvest and Of wine. The Chinese
from time immemorial have observed
both seedtime and harvest with ap-
propriate ceremonies and rcjoicings.
and even the original Americans. the
North American Indians, have cele-
brated the fruiting season OF the year
with their green corn dances and 9th
er modes Of thanksgiving and rejoic-
ing.
While America has acknowledged
its debt to the pilgrims for many good
things besides Thanksgiving day In
such as the new lofty
memorial at Provincetown. Mass. It
owes its formal annual celebration Of
the day in all likelihood to a woman
Of New England parentage. Mrs.
Sarah Josepha Hale. who was born In
1888 and died in 1879, may be regard
ed as the mother Of Thanksgiving
day" in view of the fact that for
twenty years she labored to make II
n national holiday. She was the ed
itor Of Godey's Lady's Book. fa-
nous periodical of the past century.
and In II she made the suggestion that
the last Thursday Of November be
made national holiday. She labored
for score Of years with that end In
view. advocating 1t not only In her
public writings. but also. in personal
letters to the governors Of the states
and the presidents Of the United
States. At last, In 1864. she had the
qualification of reading the Lincoln
proclamation calling on the northern
states to observe day Of thanksgiv-