Iditarod pioneer., 1913-11-22

ing annually curing the revolutlCn and III l7S4 for the return of peace-as did Presl- dent Madison in 1915. Washington ap- pointed such day in 17S9, and the Epls- copal church formally recognized the civil governments authority to appoint such a feast The Roman Catholic church, which deals so largely in holidays, did not recog- nze the right of the civil government to % into the feast day business until 1888.
 Canada got into the swim, though just why Is not laid down in the text, in 1890, by procla:ning the first Thursday, being the sixth day of the month of November, as a day of thanksgiving.
 Since 1917 tie festival has been observed annually in the state of New York. The southern Confederacy held their ThanksgiV ing on the 18th of September, 1862, while still feeling good from the battles oi Ma nassas, which they won, and various other battles which should have been fought and were not.
 To celebrate Union victories Lincoln pro- claimed August B. 1864, as a day of thanksgiving, and the second day of 1885 was observed as a day of national thanks .ving for peace.
 Most of the authorities agree in saying that since 1863 the presidents have always issued proclamations appointing the last Thursday of November as Thanksgiving day One writer says 1t IS "the fourth thursday of November"
 The present writer's memory runs back of 1863, but, of course, not as to such de- tails as the exact day of Thanksgiving, but from memory he is quite sure that it did not become an established precedent to name late Thursday in November until several years later than 1S63-say nearer 1873.
 It may be that in 1864 the country cele- brated both August 31 anad some day in November; but it is reasonable certainty that there were not observed two days in November of 1S65-the second of the month and the last Thursday, which was the last day of the month. Seven times within the last forty eight years he Hast Thursday" of November has been the last day of the month, and six times within that period the Hast" Thursday of Novem Der has been the next to the last day ot the month, and, of course, in ali these thlr- teen cases this Hast" Thursday has been the fifth and not the fourth Thursday; but the writer cheerfully acknowledges that he cannot say with any degree of certainty as to whether in these years Thanksgiving was celebrated on the fourth" or on the "last" Thursday However, for this year it does not matter-both the fourth" and the Hast are right-Thursday, November 27, 1913.
 Previous to the adoption of the 1913 laws of the Alaska legislature, Thanksgiv- ing day appears to have been a non-j udi cial day but not a legal holiday, or at least that is the way the code reads. The code says: 'No court can be opened,' etc., "on Sunday, on legal holiday, or on a day appointed by the executive authority of the United States or of the district as a day of fasting or thanksgiving
 Thanksgiving, when proclaimed by the President, is, of course, a holiday for fed eral officials, but not thereby holiday for the territory at large. Since the 26th day of June, 1913 the day has been full fledged holiday for the entire territory and for everybody in it.
 Originally as much day of thanksgiv ing for perils escaped as for blessings re- celved, it was celebrated at first as often by fasting as by feasting, but now it is generally recognized as good day for fam fly reunions and merrymaking, tempered by feeling of thanksgiving for mercies re- ceived.
 Here is a thoroughly American Thanks