The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-11-26

business from a Thanksgiving stand
point, but merely are doing business
from year to year with the idea that
conditions will eventually govern flu
ture trade.
To such an extent has the loose"
spirit developed that an agitation IS
one end to the other, as to whether the
day should be observed as a legal holi-
day. From every standpoint come
protests to such an idea. Nevertheless
the spirit Is in the air.
The history of Thanksgiving, in
directly, dates far back in history.
]Feasts of the general type have always
been held in all christian nations Of
Of the ingathering by the Jews, estab-
lished by Yaweh, under directions CIV
en- by Moses in Deuteronomy, no nation,
excepting the United States, has set
apart a regular day.
Ancient Greeks held a feast closely
resembling that of the Jews, with the
exception that the celebration lasted
for nine consecutive days and was
same being held in reverence, as the
goddess Of the cornfield and harvests.
ON such occasions sacrifices were offer
ed, consisting mostly of fruits, with
oblations of wine, honey and milk.
Romans, in the olden times, observed
hi they called Cerelia. PROFESSIONS
or men and women, with music, went
into the fields to engage in worship,
~SS%S SPSA . oho pASooO co Va various
types. This procedure was followed
with more or less regularity for a num-
Der of years..
The old English Harvest Home fes-
rivals were held in the reign of Queen
Elizabeth. On such occasions manS
rude and boisterous proceedings served
as the features. Dances, sports, rural
sports in the daytime and gigantic
quantities of home-brewed ale in the
evening and throughout the night
FORMED the principal pastimes.
Occasionally. days Of thi type have
peen observed in France and Germany,
put no steps have even been taken to
make them annual affairs or of a uni
form nature. When such DAYS were
celebrated all labor was suspended.
orders were fined heavily.
The first Thanksgiving service ever
neld In North America was staged in
de1S on the shores Of Newfoundland by
DER Frobisher. h second, according
10 history, was held by the Popham
colony at ~Sagadahoc, on the Maine
coatst, In 1907. Then came the Pilgrim
Iathers, with their historic landing at
plymouth and consequent harvest feast
the following year. 80
1t is doubtful If any resident of the
ountry through whose veins courses
the red blood of patriotism, Is not fam
liar with the details of the hardships
through which the settlers in this
group passed the first winter they
spent on American shores. How their
ranks were thinned by the plague, at
Jacks by Indians, starvation and varied
Kinds of sickness should be known by
even the smallest boy. After the harv-
est OF the first yea had been gathered
from n twenty-six scant acres the
torty-hve survivors had titled with
more or less success, Governor Bradford
sent the men Of the settlement out into
the forests to secure a bountiful sun
ply Of game for the first feast OF this
type that was ever held on American
SOIL: This event was often repeated
during that and ensuing centuries, but
it was not until President Washington
appointed such a day in 1889, following
the adoption Of the constitution. that
any move was made to make the day a
recognized n universal holiday. Aft
erWards congress-, at various times, re-
commended such days for. annual
Thanksgiving, basing the action upon
the return of peace, rainfall or the un-
expected delivery Of o supplies. Reg
ular observance of the day, in such a
manner, began during the third year OF
the civil war, when the last Thursday
Of November was named by President
Lincoln as the day for such worship
and celebration. Since that time presi-
dents and governors of Individual
states have persistently issued procla-
nations declaring, the annual holiday.
It was in 1888 that h Episcopal