Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-11-20

IN jures up visions of roast turkey and pIul
! pudding and pies and all that go to max
it annual occasion of feasting; hi
torcally one sees pilgrims on a roc
X ~ bound coast and, invariably, it is regar
CI ed as about the oldest national holiday
the land AS matter of fact it is tn
youngest, Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the celebra
ing Of Thanksgiving day as a regular official
ceremony.
It is so customary in America for one person
to do the pioneering and another to get the
credit that It is no surprise to learn that even
the Mayfower band were really not entitled TO
all the praise as original thanksgivers, which
they have been receiving ever since 1920. Not
that there is anything disparaging to be uttered
about those stern moralists-who seem to have
been adopts in loading a cargo of furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into little sailing
ship,
They were brave and they deserve the ma
tons remembrance But - years before they
landed at Plymouth a group of future colonists
had stood on American soil and given thanks at
their deverance from the perils OF the sea-
This was on Sunday, August 8, 1907, at the Is
land of Monhegan and an English minister and
a priest jointly conducted service of thanks
giving. The twin ships, Mary and John, and the
fly boat Gift Of God found their way to the
island after a long, terrible voyage of storms
and helplessness. They had neither turkey nor
cranberry sauce, but there never a more
genuine Thanksgiving day.
This was along the coast of Maine and yet
Massachusetts has through all the years been
honored among states the home of the first
Thanksgiving service.
or course the Bay state may be said to have
taken the idea and in the words of capitalist
developed 1t and put it on paying basis In
Massachusetts such day was set apart for es-
pecial services continued fasting and rigorous
giving of thanks almost from the time the PHI
grim Fathers first landed. But. without meaning
10 be facetious, it is obvious that these common
sense folk never believed in giving thanks unless
they had something to be thankful for.
Thus in 1858, 13 years after the landing at
Plymouth, the governor of that state officially
appointed a day of thanks and another in the
wear following. But then there was jump OF
three years during which the colonists did not
celebrate. Why? Certain historians insist 1t
was because they were lean" years. If so, they
must have been followed by three fat ones
as the day observed regularly until 1889
Again an interval of fateful IS years and them
I'm 1851 the governor once more declared in
favor of Thanksgiving In ESQ the day was set
apart annual state holiday and has been
ever since.
But only New York adopted the practice of
having such day until well into the eighteenth
century. AS early as 1914 the Dutch governor
Of New York issued an official proclamation for
a dav of thanksgiving, but it not followed
each year-varying probably with the governors
ideas or the conditions of the crops. Like the
famous pagan feast Of autumn, it originally was
meant chiefly a public Offering OF prayer in
gratitude for the bountiful output Of grain and
fruits which would see the settlers through the
winter
The other states were being more slowly set
tied aud in Maryland and Virginia there was not
so much of a strong religious atmosphere notice
able as 4 debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever Of
the good things of life could be had.
The day was observed but not ofhcsally. And
always in the south 1t a day of feasting.
From the time slavery entered the land the
Maryland Virginia colonist pictured Thanks
giving dinner as a scene OF expectant waiting
diners and a round grinniug black face to the
rear of the huge roast turkey on a platter.
About the time Of the struggle of 20 it came
into its as a regular holiday and in 1889
was, for the first time, declared a holiday b.
congress and so observed. So that, really, it is
quite youthful immature holiday after ALL