El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-11-22

Turkey may or may not have been a
feature Of the repast-though later
on, with pumpkin pie, il was undOubt-
edly associated with the Thanksgiv-
ings of early New England 1t was
a plentiful bird in that part of the
country. But this refers to the wild
turkey of course; our white-meated
fowl which is descended from Mexican
VenisOn and bear-meat must have
figured conspicuOuSly at the feast of
which Massasoit and his warriors
partOok.
No Special Date Set.
In very early times there was no
special date for Thanksgiving festi-
val in New England An unusually
bountiful harvest was always deemed
a fitting occasion for the appoint
ment of day of thanksgiving by the
governors of the colonies of Plymouth
and Massachusetts, Bay. Later on 1t be-
came an annual affair, and the two
most important celebrations of each
year were Fast Day and Thanksgiving.
The former (Which came 10 be as
csOciated with hard-boiled eggs and
cider, consumed in large quantities)
for good crops. Thanksgiving was
in recognition for divine beneficence
in granting bOuntiful harvests.
Thanksgiving Day in early New En-
gland was very solemn occasion. In
the morning there were religious SER
vices at the "meetinghOuse," which
were drawn out long enough to test
the endurance of the congregation.
The minister occupied lofty pulpit,
behind and above which was huge
sounding board. On an elevated seat,
facing the congregation, sat the
Ruling Elder, and on a bench some
what less high were the deacOns. A
prayer 10 minutes long was followed
by the reading and exposition of
chapter of Holy Writ Then the Rul-
ing Elder gave out a psalm, in which
all Joined. The sermon, which came
next, was timed by an hour-glaSS to
last exactly one hour, and was largely
made up of the most frightful threats
and predictions regarding the too
probable fate of the unfortunate
When one considers the fact that
there was no means Of heating the
church, it is easy to imagine how glad
everybody must have been when the
services were over. Everybody, of
course, was obliged to be present, in
Guiding the children, but the latter
must have some consolation in think
ing, through prayer and sermon, Of
the good things to eat that were COM
ing later on.
Dinners Weeks in Preparation.
The Thanksgiving dinner, indeed
had been in preparation for weeks.
nay. for months. Puddings for the
year in advance; and the turkey, which
was the dish par excellence of the oc-
casion, was supplemented by roast
chickens. winter apples, nuts, and an
array of pies of various kinds.
Henry Ward Beecher, himself OF
New England birth and rearing. once
said: But it is new and foreign to
me I did not know it when I was
child, so my heart never warns TO it
as to Thanksgiving"
After the dinner, on Thanksgiving
Day, the young people played at bowls
and backgammon. these among the
the few games deemed permissible.
In the evening there was bIindman's
buff, and perhaps a little fiddling.
But music among the early Puritans
and their descendants was too frivol-
Gus to be well thought OF. and at
tempts to introduce the fiddle of any
other instrument into church services
in New England. as an accompani-
ment for the singing, were for a long
time unsuccessful
Time for Reunions.
Thanksgiving in the early days af-
fOrded, as 1t does now. an opportunity
for family and social reunions. Ad-
vantage was also taken of the occasion
to reconcile disputes and difficulties
of all sorts History records that the
Rev. Mr.. Buckley, of Colchester, Conn.
was famous for his skill and wisdom