The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1912-11-28
THANKSGIVING.

Again the revolution of the seasons has
brought us to the day which, next to Christi
mas, is recognized as the greatest of our
holidays. Early engrafted upon the Colo
NAL calendar as day for giving thanks to
benificent Providence for the blessings
of health and bounteous season, the
custom was continued by Washington upon
the formation of the Union, and has been
continued in unbroken succession through
similar presidential recommendation. 1t
is not so designated for observance by
Federal statute, but is observed as holi-
dav in all the States and Territories, though
in a few it is not statutory holiday. 1t is
the American type of the Harvest Home OF
Old England where, with the crops housed
for winter and the work of the farm laid
by, gratitude to Providence for its bounty
was shown in the simple form of domestic
reunions and such religious services as
best accord with the spirit of the occasion.
On Thanksgiving Day one sentiment
may be said to prevail throughout the
whole country, an abiding sense OF the
goodness of Providence in the blessings
vouchsafed in the year just passed, with
the informal gathering around the family
board TO enjoy some of the good store
cuied from nature as the result of prov
ident husbandry. By gradual growth OF
custom the turkey has come to be regarded
as an accompaniment, in fact the chief
feature, of the Thanksgiving festival. BY
what means it was first elevated into such
conspicuous evidence of appreciation, ex-
cept from growing agreement as to the ex-
cellence as choice article of diet, is not
recorded. Certainly its prominence at the
bosrd on the occasion is quite as universal
as was once the boar's head as an accom-
paniment of Christmas dinner in Eng
land.
In this appreciation of what may, as far
as this festival is concerned, be termed our
our royal bird, there is shown quite re-
markable coincidence with the estimate in
which it was held by Benjamin Franklin.
Upon the formation of the Union, when
the American eagle was proposed as the
emblem of the Republic, Franklin favored
the substitution Of the turkey as more ap-
propriate from being not only native bird
but one Of peace and without the MARTA
and predatory characteristics which made
the eagle favorte emblem with monarch.
ical Governments. His recommendation
was rejected, but his judgment as to the
relative merits of the two birds has beer
amply indicated by the America people
in the universal testimonial of their appre'
probation of the more domestic and USE
full Of the two, as will to-day be attestet
by its prominence at the family boare
throughout the length and breadth of tn
land.
''In everything give thanks is the ad
moniton of the fouqtain of wisdom ant
inspiration. There is real prosperit.
abundant in the land, with plenty to ca
and'pienty to drink and plenty to wear
Crops are bountiful and work plentiful
We all acknowledge the existence of al
overruling providence, great first caus
of which the world and all that therein i
are only effects. To that cause we ow
eur existence and our happiness, and TO
these we should be perpetually grateful
To-day the smile of peace and happi
ness will spread over the land like tn
sunshine, and from a hundred thousan
churches and millions of homes will ris
the prayers of thanksgiving to the Grea
Source from which all blessings flow.
Goods in His Heaven;
ALPS right with the world"