The state herald., 1913-11-21

diers of the Continental army. In 1883 congress
decided to ask the president to issue a proclama-
tion asking the people to suspend work and give
thanks on a certain day OF the year. There had
been considerable opposition to the passage OF
the BILL some OF the reasons given being more
humorous than serious. President Washington
acquiesced In the wishes OF congress and issued
n proclamation appointing November 26 OF that
year the day for the American people to Join
in Thanksgiving to God for the and pro.
lection he had given them In their plentiful
harvest and freedom from epdemics.
From time TO time our presidents issued
procamations. but II generally left to the
governors OF the states TO determine on what
day 1t should occur. Under the administration OF
John Adams two national fast days were OBJ
served. but real Thanksgiving. 1t was not
until 1915. after three national fasts account
OF the war. that another national Thanksgiving
was appointed by the president James Madison
This was due to peace with Great Britain After
this there was another lull In procamations as
far as presidents were concerned until 1S49. when
President Taylor set day NJ fast on August the
third on account OF the cholera Meanwhile the
national Thanksgiving day seemed to be dying
out, except In the New England states. Then
came the Civil war, and the nation was again
summoned to fasting and two such days were
kept In ls6i-January and September 26-but
II was not until 1868 that the horizon had 80
frightened as TO warrant the appointment OF n
national Thanksgiving Immediately after the
Battle OF Gettysburg Mrs Sarah ]. Hale a Boston
woman. wrote to President Lincoln suggesting q
national thanksgiving. and following her advice,
the president set apart Thursday. August O. as
a day OF praise and prayer" On November 20
OF the same year another Thanksgiving was kept
and this was really great festival and observed
In every northern state. In 1854 the 2tth OF
November kept After this with one ex.
ception, our great national day OF thanks has
been celebrated on the last Thursday In No.
yember
The presidential procamations contain very
little that is new or original and usually take the
form OF an essay In 1895. after the Spanish.
American war. President Mckinley had n chance
to vary the conventional form by giving special
thanks for the restoration OF peace" This was
Just 100 years after washingtonn proclamation.
President Roosevelt. who always did original
things, declared that THANKSGIVING proclann.
uon could not be made brilliant episrammati.
cal paper The proclamation OF the president
stamps the feast with sort OF oiioal character
-aomething possessed by no other holiday This
proclamation does not make II legal holiday
II merely recommends that the people suspend
business for the day. A special statute In each
state Ia required 10 make the day legal holi.
day. and this has not been enacted in every
state.
The day was originally set apart for thanksgiy.
ins, fasting prayer and religious dovotions but
the modern Thanksgiving has become n day OF
feasiins and Iollity and IL made the occasion
OF nil sorts OF sports and festivities The erns.
Tor outdoor III. keeps many from tho churches.
although tho places OF worship continue TO be
nlIed with "A roody company" who gather TO
give thanks 10 him from whom cometh avery
good and every perfect sift".
The turkey Ia still king OF tho Thanksgiving
feast and m an addition the good things of the
neld and vineyard have been added. The famous
pigeon pie which was n popular Thanksgiving
dinh IN IN" early part OF tho nineteenth century
u rarely seen In these days Tho wild pigeons
which aiighted In great numbers on tho buck
wheat ncldn were entioed by n decoy duck with
IN spring not and caught by tho hundred
They were kept alive and fattened on grain unit,
the day before Thanksgiving. whom they wers
Killed and made into pie for tho Thanksgiving
table
Mos, Of tho old customs Of tho day have