Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1913-11-21

IpR<I jures up visions of roast turkey and plum
Al pudding and pies and all that go to max,
Ri | it an annual occasion of feasting; his
40 torically sees pilgrims on a rock
kS x11 bound coast" and, invariably it is regard
- ed as about the Oldest national holiday o
the land! AS matter Of fact it is thu
youngest! Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the celebra
ing of Thanksgiving day a regular official
ceremony.
1t 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 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 cargo of furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into a little sailing
ship
They were brave and they deserve the ma
tons remembrance. But 10 years before they
landed at Plymouth a group of future coonists
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 English minister and
a priest jointly conducted a service OF thanks
giving. The twin ships, Mary and John, and the
hy 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 was 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 as the nome OF the hrst
Thanksgiving service.
OF course the Bay state may be said TO have
taken the idea and in the words of a 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 Pill
grim Fathers first landed But without meaning
TO 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 1888, Is years after the landing at
Plymouth, the governor of that state officially
Amounted n day of thanks and another in the
year following. But then there was jump or
three years during which the colonists did not
celebrate Why? Certain historians insist IL
was because they were lean" years. If so, they
must have been followed by three fat ones,
as the dav was observed regularly until 1889.
Again an interval of fateful 13 years and then,
in 1861 the governor once more declared IN
favor of Thanksgiving In 1850 the day was set
apart as annual state holiday ana mas oeen
ever since
But only New York adopted the practice of
having such a day until we'll into the eighteenth
century! AS early 1914 the Dutch governor
nf New York issued an official proclamation for
a day of thanksgiving, but 1t was 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 as 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 and in Maryland and Virginia there was not
so much of strong religious atmosphere notice
able as a debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever OF
the good things of life could be had.
The day was observed but not officially. And
always in the south 1t day of feasting
From The time slavery entered the land the
Maryland or Virginia colonist pictured Thanks
giving dinner as a of expectant waiting
diners and a round grinning black face 20 the
rear of the huge roast turkey on platter.
About the time OF the struggle of '76 Il came
into its own as a regular holiday and in 1859
was for the first time. declared holiday by
congress and so observed. So that. really, 1t is
quite youthful. immature holiday after all!