Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-23

Indian neighbors was in itself a cause
for special Thanksgiving, and so. at the
first official Thanksgiving which was cele-
brated at Plymouth in 1921, the Pilgrims
entertained and Toasted not only them
selves but the Indian chief Massasoit,
with ninety of his followers. for three
days. They sent men out to kill fowl
especially for the occasion and the In
dams also killed five deer which they
presented to the hospitable colonists.
Later the increasing number of emf
grants to the colony. many of them be-
ing the wives and children of the origi-
nal Pilgrims, and the failure Of the crops
| through long drought made starvation
seem imminent In 1923, so day of
! special prayer for rain was ordered. AS
giving was ordered for the saving of the
crops
Yet when the new colonists had arrived
earlier in the summer Of 1923. before the
harvest was gathered. the Pilgrims had
nothing to offer them to eat but a lobster
or a piece of fish without bread, SO great
was their poverty.
The Massachusetts, bay colony is said to
have been the first Of the colonies to have
an annual Thanksgiving appointed by
proclamation of its English governor. 1t
seems that there was great scarcity of
provisions in the colony, and starvation
seemed Imminent February %, 1881, was
therefore appointed as a. day for special
fasting and prayer for relief Before the
day arrived, however vessel came laden
necessities that the day appointed for
Tasting was changed into one of thanks
giving. There We're frequent thanksgiv-
ings appointed afterward up to 1850.
A similar coincidence occurred in
Charleston In 1851. Owing to necessities
of the colonists. day appointed for fast
ing was changed to one of thanksgiving
by the arrival Of a vessel from Ireland.
South Carolina did not then, however.
make this an annual celebration
Connecticut held its first THANKSGIVING
in 1889. After 1647, Thanksgiving was
made an annual celebration, except in the
year 1915.
The appointment and observance of
days OF special thanksgiving was by no
means confined to the English or French
settlements in America. Gov. Kieft the
Dutch Governor of New Netherlands APP
pointed day of public thanksgiving to
De held at New Amsterdam in February
1644, to celebrate his victory over the
Indians at Greenwich. Conn. This
Thanksgiving was ordered celebrated tvs
days after his return from the expedi-
ton.
August 80. 1915. Gov. Kieft ordered an
other Thanksgiving for the conclusion of
treaty OF peace with the Mohawk In
dams, who had terrorized the settlements
for long time. This treaty was ne
gotiated with the aid of Van der Donck
and was the result of the latter's visit to
Fort Orange. By it's terms no Indian
was to approach Manhattan armed, nor
were armed colonists to visit the Indian
villages unless conducted by some In
dian Mrs. Hutchinson's captive grand
daughter was also given up on ransom
The citizens of New Amsterdam hav-
ing assembled together and approved
the treaty. day of general Thanksgiving
was ordered. Since the settlements about
New Amsterdam had been nearly ruined
In the wars with the Indians, so that they
could at this time hardly muster 100 men,
1t may be well imagined that the pros
pect of a peace was welcomed by the
New Netherlanders. BY means of this
peace some additional cessions were gain
ed on Long Island, and Vlissingen, now