Carroll County democrat. (Huntingdon, Tenn.) 188?-1971, 1913-11-21

the landh AS matter or facL IL IS y
youngest! Practically every yearly observance Of
pathetic mature Is more ancient than the celebr
, ine as Thanksgiving day as a regular official
ceremony. VI
It ia a. customary in America for one person
ID do the pioneering and another to get the
credit that il is no surprise to learn that even
the Mayfower band were really not entitled to
alI the praise as original thanksgivers, which
they have been receiving ever since 1871. MOI
that there is anything disparaging to be uttered
about those stern moralists-who seem to have
been adopts in loading cargo OF furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into little SAILING
ship!
Tfsev were brave and they deserve the ma
lions remembrance. But 10 years before they
handed 1T Plymouth group OF future colonists
had stood on American soil and given thanks at
thar deliyerance from the pertls OF the sea-
sErhs was on Sunday, August 3, 1907, at the IS
land OF Monhegan and an English minister ana
"a priest Jointly conducted service OF thanks
giving The twin ships. Mary and John, and the
Nv boat Gift of Cod found their way to the
island after long, terrible voyage OF storms
and helplessness, They had neither turkey nor
cranberry sauce but there was never more
genuine Thanksgiving day
This was along the coast OF Maine and YET
Massachusetts has, through all the years, been
THANKSGIVING service.
or course the Bay state may be said 70 nave
4aken the idea and in the words OF capitalist
4.deveIoped it and put 1t on a paying basis ~
Massachusetts such day was set apart TOT es
T,actaI services, continued fasting and rigorous
-iving Of thanks almost from the time the Pli-
rim Fathers first landed But without meaning
~ te facetious, it is obvious that these common
sense folk never believed In giving thanks unless
- thnrIr
Thus IN 1888, 10 years after the landing AT
v,,ywouth the governor Of that state officially
snrotntad q day Of thanks and another in the
500 following But then there was jump OF
shvee wears during which the colonists did not
naYahrate Whyf Certain historians insist u
80 hacauae they were lean" years II so, they
v.rs4 nave been followed By three fat ones
~ tba day was observed regularly until 1853.
Again An interval Of fateful IL years ana tnen'
"a 1851 the governor once more declared IN
favor Of Thanksgiving. In 1850 the Gay was SET
apart els an annual state holiday ana mas Deen
ever since.
-. orIv New York adopted the practice OF
s..siv,, such day until well into the eighteenth
-.,s,,rvl AZ early as 1914 the Dutch governor
- Now York issued an official proclamation FOR
: sssv of thanksgiving, but ~ was not folioweo
-.eh vear--yarying probably with the governors
49,. ~ the conditions OF the crops. Like the
!. mons pagan feast of autumn, It originally was
,,aant chiefly as public offering Of prayer IN
~rafitude for the bountifu output q grain ana
er,,,ts which would see the settlers through tho
winter u,...,u ~.
49, IA Il Maryland and Virginia there was not
i, No, much Of strong religious atmosphere notice
ss,a IS : debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever OF
M GOOD things Of life could be had
Ut qbs day was observed but not oficially And
.Iwavs ii the south, It was a day Ct feasting
From the time slavery entered tne iana the
$500. rlp u Virginia coIonIst pictured Thanks
&c. s,uner as scene of expectant waiting
$500 $500 and round grinning black face to the
sss~ ~ tbe huge roast turkey on platter
xbout the time Of the struggle OF e i came
- ~ own as a regular holiday and In 1883
r ,.s sor ne first time. declared a holiday by
'.crgress and so observed So that really i is
ssIse 4 youthful, immature holiday atter AM