Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1913-11-21

49, ed as about the Oldest national holiday
the land! AS matter of fact it is Il
youngest! Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the celebri
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 1t Is no surprise to learn that even
the Mayhower 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 moraists-who seem to have
been adopts in loading cargo OF furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into little sailing
ship
They were brave and they deserve the ma.
tons remembrance But 10 years before they
landed at Plymouth group of future coonists
had stood on American soil and given thanks at
their deliverance from the perils of the sea.
This Sunday August 8, 1907, at the Is
land of Monhegan and an English minister and
a priest Jointly conducted service of thanks
giving. The twin ships, Mary and John, and the
fly 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 more
genuine Thanksgiving day
This along the coast of Maine and yet
Massachusetts has, through all the years. been
honored among states the home of the first
Thanksgiving service
OF course the Bay state may be said to have
taken the idea and in the words of capitalist,
developed 1t and put it on paying basis" In
Massachusetts such day was set apart for
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, 1t 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
fhn nF hat Ctnta off {e
appointed day OF thanks and another in the
year following But then there was jump of
three years during which the colonists did not
celebrate Why? Certain historians insist 1t
was because they we're lean" years. II So they
must have been followed by three fat ones,
the day observed regularly until 1889.
Again interval of fateful 10 years and then,
in 1851 the governor once more declared in
favor of Thanksgiving, In 1850 the day was set
apart as an annual state holiday and has been
ever since
But only New York adopted the practice Of
having such day until well into the eighteenth
century! AS early as 1914 the Dutch governor
of New York issued an official proclamation for
day of Thanksgiving but It not followed
each year-varying probably with the governors
ideas or the conditions of the crops. Like the
famous pagan feast of autumn, 1t originally was
meant chiefly as a public offering of prayer in
gratitude for the bountiful output of grain and
fruits which would 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 debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever of
the good things of life could be had
Inc day was observed but not officially And
always In the south it was day of feasting
From the time slavery entered the land the
Maryland or Virginia colonist pictured Thanks.
giving dinner as a scene of expectant waiting
dihers and round grinning black face to the
rear OF the huge roast turkey on a platter
About the time of the struggle of rs IL came
INTO Its own as regular holiday and in 1889
Was ter the first time, declared a holiday by
congress and so observed. So that, really IL Is
quite youthful, immature holiday after all,