The Washington herald., 1911-11-30

While authorities differ on the origin
of the festival, there is no doubt that
in the twentieth century good old
Thanksgiving Day is regarded as a
peculiarly American institution The
late Bishop Satterlee once told the
writer that it, like many other fes-
tivals, originated with the Jews away
back in the days of Moses, who de-
sired TO give thanks for 4 bountiful
harvest.
DAY BELONGS TO ALL.
Be that as it may, the day belongs to
every one, rich or poor, grown-up folks
or youngsters. 1t belongs to no particu-
lar section. race, creed, color, or political
party. Way down on Nantucket, where
in hard times Cape Cod roasters'' were
the substitute for the American bird; out
in the logging camps of the far Nor west,
where pork, fried apples, and wild rice
constitute the attractive features of the
menu; in DiXieland, at the Golden Gate,
in New York with its wonderful lobster
palaces and many foreign quarters, and
in the Nations Capital. Thanksgiving
Day Is observed as one of national tradi-
ton. and turkey will here be the piece de
resistance.
As to Washington. in particular.
Thanksgiving Day, 1911. brings a holi-
day for nearly all the $4,000 government
employees, for thousands of those in
banks and stores, and II will be ObServ-
ed with more than customary patriot
ism. enthusiasm, and no falIing-off in
apPetite-so far as normal mankind is
concerned.
GustatOry Enth uSfasm.
The day will bring special services in
the churches and prayers for the con-
tnuance of the dispensations Of a boun-
tiful Providence-and not the least to be
noted will be the fine gustatory enthus-
asm that makes the animal man able
to count his blessings and take stock Of
his spiritual stewardship.
The day has been forecast by un-
usually attractive displays in the mar
kets and shops In these displays have
been diSCs Tnible fruits and nuts from
many lands, baskets containing Malaga
grapes and choice roasts adorned with
SUet, turkeys with the real stuffing pro-
truding through the basting strings. Vel
low pumpkins, imitation and real shocks
Of corn with the ears in the husk, au-
tumn leaves, cranberrieS, and nutS-pe-
cans. walnuts, almonds-all have been
piled into the display windows with an
abandon that makes the mouth water.
what's the use; all the foundations for
the feast OF the day are to be seen
in greater profusion than ever before.
Most of this display, of course, is for
the homebody, he she fortunate
enough to make one Of the family party
at home" For the transient visitor, or
the man or woman who wishes to dine
wisely and well, there never was such
an opportunity as Washington hotels
and cafes will offer to-day.
And-lest We forget-considerable, yea,
it is to be hoped, ample provision has
been made for the sick, the unfortunate,
the wayfareT so that all may be fed,
all may have cause to be thankful, No
vembeT go ammo Domni 1911
At the White House.
The icebOx door in the White House
kitchen stood bit ajar last night because
the tied legs OF the Taft turkey sired by
a Virginian wild turkey boasting the best
domesticated turkey blood of Connecti-
cut on its maternal side and fed to forty
pounds table side on Horace Vose's Rhode
Island farm, could not be squeezed to ft
the generous dimensions of the White
House iCebOX.
The White House turkey arrived here
none too soon for the staff of cooks TO
begin work upon it. The cooks say that
Mr.. NOses guarantee that the bird is a |
blue ribbon winner among the Presiden- |
aggeratiOn. When the crate was ripped |
off the turkey at the White House a part !
of to-nights Presidential dinner came |
mighty nigh destruction from neglect.
The turkey was dressed and prepared !
for roasting to-day. The President does |
not take his Thanksgiving dinner until |
$50 this evening, so that the cooks will |
have all day to roast the forty-pound |
turkey.
Mr. Taft is going to put in a quiet |
Thanksgiving Day. In the morning he |
will attend the Pan-American Thanksgiv- |
ing Day celebration which is to be held !
at St Patrick's Church. Many in official |
life and all OF the South and Central !
American diplomatic officers will attend |
this service. In the afternoon the Presi- |
dent is going to work. There isn't any
way for him TO get around working. He !
admitted yesterday that the man who |
issued the long singsong proclamation |
about this being a day OF rest and cele- |
hratiOn has simply got to put in three |
or maybe more hours at his desk. His |
dinner will be en- famille. The evening
he will spend with Mrs. Taft and his
family.
Children Can Gorge.
School boys and girls will have ample /
time to recover from any evil effects OF
oTerindulgence in mince or pumpkin pie |
nuts. raisins. and other good things. |
There will be no sessions at the public |
schools until Monday. Informal Thanks
giving exercises were held in ali public
schools yesterday afternoon. Programmes
OF varying length were given, ranging
Iom the reading of the Presidents pro-
clamation to extensive programmes OF
music and recitatious
Al the Franklin School in the morning
the younger pupils spent an hour in
studyinga live turkey. Gagged in the
board room, and then went hack to their /
class rooms TO write about what they
saw.
LIBERAL merchants yesterday cent tur-
Key or the Wberewith 70 each OF their /,
married employees. Several '.souIiess"
at the Soldiers Home the ssna+ton,si
wards" VIII feast bountifuliy ana on tha
best the land affords IsIfln-e 4h...-. - - -