Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-11-29

derS of the Continental In 1888 congress
decided to ask the president issue a procama-
ton asking the people suspend work and give
thanks certain day of the year There had
been considerable opposition to the passage OF
the bill, of the reasons given being
humorous than serious. President Washington
acquiesced in the wishes of congress and issued
a proclamation appointing November 26 of that
year as 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 epidemics.
From time time presidents issued
proclamations, but it generally left to the
governors of the states to determine what
day it should Under the administration of
John Adams two national fast days were OBJ
served but no real Thanksgiving. 1t
until 1915, after three national fasts
OF the war, that another national Thanksgiving
appointed by the president James Madison
This due to peace with Great Britain. After
this there was another lull in proclamations
far presidents concerned until 1S49, when
President Taylor set day of fast August the
third account of the cholera. Meanwhile the
national Thanksgiving day seemed be dying
out, except in the New England states. Then
came the Civil and the nation again
summoned to fasting and two such days were
kept in 1S61-January and September 26-but
it not until 1863 that the horizon had so
frightened as to warrant the appointment of
national Thanksgiving Immediately after the
Battle of Gettysburg Mrs Sarah J. Hale Boston
woman wrote to President Lincoln suggesting
national thanksgiving, and following her advice,
the president set apart Thursday, August 6,
a day of praise and prayer" On November 26
of the year another Thanksgiving was kept,
and this was really great festival and observed
In every northern state In 1854 the oath Of
November was kept After this, with
ception, great national day of thanks has
been celebrated on the last Thursday in No
vember.
The presidential proclamations contain very
little that is new or original and usually take the
form of essay. In 1898, after the Spanish
American war. President Mckinley had a chance
10 vary the conventional form by giving special
thanks for the restoration of peace This was
Just 100 years after Washingtons proclamation
President Roosevelt. who always did original
things, declared that a Thanksgiving proclana-
ton could not be made brilliant epigrammati-
cal paper THE proclamation of the president
stamps the feast. with sort of official character
something possessed by other holiday This
proclamation does not make it legal holiday
1t merely recommends that the people suspend
business for the day. A special statute in each
state is required to make the day legal holt
day. and this has not been enacted in every
state.
The day was originally set apart for thanksgiv-
ing fastlng PRAYER and religious devotons but
the modern Thanksgiving has become a day of
feasting and jollity, and is made the occasion
OF all sorts of sports and festivities. The craze
although the places of worship continue to be
filled with "a goodly company" who gather to
give thanks to him from whom cometh every
good and every perfect gift
The turkey is still king of the Thanksgiving
feast and as an addition the good things of the
field and vineyard have been added The famous
pigeon pie, which was a popular Thanksgiving
dish in the early part of the nineteenth century
is rarely seen in these days The wild pjeeoos
which alighted in great numbers on the buck
wheat fields. were enticed by decoy duck with
In Spring net and caught by the hundred
fhey We're kept alive and fattened grain until
the day before Thanksgiving when they were
: table
Most of thesold customs of the day have
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