The Elbert County tribune., 1913-11-21

ITI jures up visions of roast turkey and plur
pudding and pies and ali that go to max
It an annual occasion of feasting his
- torcally one pilgrims a rocl
k5 al bound coast" and. Invariably, 1t is regart
T. = ed about the oldest national holiday
the land AS matter of fact 1t is tn
youngest Practically every yearly observance of
patriotic nature is more ancient than the celebra
ing OF Thanksgiving day regular official
ceremony.
1t is SO customary In America for person
to do the pioneering and another to get the
credit that 1t Is surprise to learn that even
the Mayaower band were really not entitled to
all the praise original thanksgvers which
they have been receiving ever since 1920. Not
that there is anything dsparaging to be uttered
about those stern moralsts-who seem to have
been adopts In loading cargo of furniture that
would tax an ocean liner into a little sailing
ship!
They were brave and they deserve the ma
tion's remembrance. But 13 years before they
landed at Plymouth q group of future colonists
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 Monhegau 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 long, terrible voyage of storms
and helplessness. They had neither turkey, nor
cranberry sauce. but there was never more
genuine Thanksgiving day.
This was along the coast of Maine and yet
Massachusetts has through all the years, been
honored among states as the home OF the nrst
Thanksgiving service
or course the Bay state may be said to have
taken the idea and in the words of a capitalist.
developed 1t and put It on paying basis In
Massachusetts, such day was set apart for es-
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
had something O he thankful
Thus, in 1888. 13 years after the landing at
Plymouth, the governor of that state officially
appointed day of thanks and anotherNin the
year following. But then there was a jump OF
three yehrs during which the colonsts did not
celebrate Why? Certain historians insist it
because they were lean" years If so. they
must have been followed by three fat ones
as the day observed regularly until 1859
Again an interval of fateful 13 years and then
In 1851 the governor once more declared in
favor OF Thanksgiving. In 1850 the day was set
apart annual state holiday and has been
ever since.
But only New York adopted the practice of
having such a day until well into the eighteenth
century! AS early as 1914 the Dutch governor
of New York issued official proclamation for
a day of thanksgiving. but II was not followed
each year-varyng probably with the governors
ideas 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 see the settlers through the
winter.
The other states were being more slowly set
tied and In Maryland and Virginia there was not
much of strong religious atmosphere notice
able debonnaire enthusiasm for whatever of
the good things of life could be had
The day was observed but not oficially And
always. In the south 1t day OF feasting.
From the time slavery entered the land the
Maryland or Virginia colonist pictured Thanks
giving dinner a of expectant waiting
diners and a round grinning black face to the
rear Of the huge roast turkey a platter
About the time Of the struggle Of '76 It came
into its regular holiday and In 1889
was. for the first time. declared holiday by
congress and so observed So that. really 1t is
quite youthful immature holiday after ALL