The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-11-27
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By BLACKSTONE

England were dark with shadows OF
stern constraining scorn of all gay
ETY.. symbolized by sombre gray and
brown apparel" 1t is said that ev-
en- today, in some secluded villages
a bit of embroidery or bright rib
bon is the occasion of gossip and
much solemn consultation among
the elders. Many a tale is told of
pulpit reproof-of speaking right
out in meeting. Parson Moody. of
York, compared the proud array of
lady entering the meeting house
in her new fashioned hoop to the
rigging of a ship under full sail,
which would eventually sink her
into hell.
Hawthorne has also reflected the
domestic dramas of this gloomy
period: No pleasures. no merry di-
versions were tolerated, and it is
duly recorded that mother should
be punished for kissing her child
on the Sabbath. A strange fantasy
possessed these people to interpret
everything religiously. Truly a
mad world, my masters when to-
day our customs are diametrically
opposite to those of the 17th and
18th centuries. Think of man
spoken of as passing rich with 40
pounds year
To the student of history it is
clear that the observances of
Thanksgiving Day as practiced by
the early Pilgrims were intended as
rebuke to the English custom of
celebrating Christmas.
The lawlessness, revelry and RI
bald singing common in English
towns and cities was repugent to
the religious pature of the New
Highlander and )in his endeavor to
counteract these customs a rigid
observance of Thanksgiving Day
was enforced on all.
Not so many years ago it was the
custom for the young folks to or
ganize on Thanksgiving eve Beg
ging Parties" The boys and girls
dressed in old clothes and with
faces blacked to conceal their iden-
tity would make the rounds of the
neighborhood; knocking at the
door the stereotyped questions:
Please give me something for
Thanksgiving?" would be asked of
the person who responded by open
ing the door. An invitation to
come i'm would be given and after
much pretended bashfulness the
party would go in to undergo fun
making ordeal of inquisitiveness.
After much guessing as to who was
who. cakes and mince pies with
sweet cider were passed round and
the gay little. party left to beg
some more at other houses. Iras-
cible old maids and bachelors were
special targets for mischievous
pranks, but they often had their re-
venge when strange parties coming
into the neighborhood to beg re-
ceived warm and sometimes a
wet welcome instead of the usual
offering of mince pie. What New
England boy or girl could forget
these typical escapades. Again,
how strange that even in old New
England, the land of It's birth, the
day is no longer one of fasting. In
its place is feast'ig and festivity.
Roast turkey md mince pie
is on the table for dinner in every
New England home. This is
matter of pride with the native
born, and if by any misfortune he
cannot provide it himself, many
rich families make it duty to send
a turkey with I'll the fixings to his
home.
Another interesting fact relating
to this New England holiday is the
re- uniting Of all members of the
family about the dinner table. No
other day has so strong a hold on
the heart anG affections of the New