The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1914-11-26
INTERESTING FACTS OF
THANKSGIVING DAY

relieve our beloved country from the
fearful scourge of civil war"
Lincoln's are filled with pathos. Thus
he asks the people in 1852 to .'implore
consolation in behalf of all
have been brought into affliction
by casualties and calamities of war"
and IN 1868. to invoke divine influence
ITO subdue the anger which has pro-
duced and so long sustained a needless
n cruel rebellion" III a pleased
Almighty God to prolong our national
life another year, defending US with
Ills guardian care against unfriendly
designs from abroad" states his las
proclamation, that of 1864, which asks
the people to "reverently humbl them
selves in the dust and from thence Of
Ter up penitent and fervent prayers
and applications to the Great Disposer
OF events for the return of the inestim-
able blessings of peace, union and har-
mony.'
AT the close of the war of 1872 Madi-
son asks his people to give thanks for
the blessings of peace" as we'll as the
resources which have enabled them to
their national rights and to en-
nance their national character in an
other arduous conflict, which is now
happily terminated.
After the adoption of the constitution
Washington invoked thanks for the
p~eaceable and rational manne in
Which we have Deer enabled to estab-
lfsh constitutions of government for
our safety happiness, and, partic-
ularly, the national one lately insti-
tuted." He also asked the people to
pray for the protection and guidance
OF al sovereigns and nations (espe-
cially such as have shown kindness to
us).' AND the return Of peace, follow
ing the revolution, is referred to in a
thanksgiving proclamation by the con-
tinental congress recommending thanks
ciously pleased SO to conduct us
through the perils and dangers of the
war as finally to establish the United
states in freedom and INDEPENDENCE,
and to give them a name and place
among the princes and nations of
earth"
The nations first official thanks
prompters were committees, usually Of
three, appointed by the continental
congress-in the days before we had a
presldent-to draw up Zach year a
proclamation recommending to the
governors of the states that a desig-
mated date be observed as a day of ma
o Thanksgiving and prayer. These
committees appear to have been mem
bers OF congress, except in 177S, when
the two chaplains of congress were or
i I plcpdI Tie QTdIC.
Turkeyless and hot was our first ma
tlonal Thanksgiving day, appointed by
congress. but although held in midsum-
mer-July 20, 1775-it set the Thursday
precedent, religiously followed during
the past two generations, although not
Immediately respected, for the second
national Thanksgiving day occurred on
Friday, May II, 1776. Two years later
Wednesday was the day, but after
Washington took control of affairs
Thursday was preferred.
He helped to promote the nations
thanks on two notable occasions be-
fore he became president, the first be-
ing during his desolate winter at Valley
Forge, when he directed his army.
December IS, the date appointed by
congress-, to remain in its present
quarters and that the chaplains per
form divine service with their seyeral
corps and brigades." And it is some
what of a coincidence that Secretary
OF State Knox. who issues the presi-
dents Thanksgiving proclamation, has
nus home upon that same ground ut
valley Forge, where Washington thus
issued his first Thanksgiving instruc-
lions in that bleak winter of 1777.
A more festive program was ar
ranged by the general the following
spring, when he ordered his troops to
observe May Z, 177S, as a day of
thanksgiving for he aid given BY
france to the patriot cause. Happily
his orderly book" outlining III
great detail the ceremony to be OBJ
served has been preserved.
Upon a signal given the who'll army
will huzza Long live the king of
France he directs. This huzza was
then to be followed by the booming of
cannon, a general discharge of mus
kerry, another huzza. Long live the
European powers!" then more cannon.
more musketry fire and a final huzza,
THE American states!"
Two years Of our history saw two
Thanksgiving days each, and both
and December II were both designated.
While in 1868 Lincoln designated Thurs
day, August 6, as a special Thanks
giving day in advance of the autumnal
Ieast OF the last Thursday in November.
The summer holiday was a special
Thanksgiving for victory. as had been.
in fact, the only national Thanksgiving
day of 1852.
From Madison's time to Lincoln's
there We're no national Thanksgiyings
proclaimed by presidents although the
festival was observed annually in New
England and in New York. as also in
the scattered Episcopal congregations,
whose book of common prayer since
1883 had designated the first Thursday
in a November for giving thanks
in the churches unless civil authority
should designate another date for this
purpose.
In New England, where it had been
an institution, since 1921, Thanksgiving
day continued all the while to outrank
even Christmas as a festival of 10Y.
feasting and family reunion.
On becoming governor of New York
John Jay e~ndeavored to establish it IN
that state as an annual institution. but
his political enemies branded his proc
lamation as an attempt to stir up re-
ligious prejudice in his favor, and he
made no further ATTEMPTS.
Governor Clinton, however, renewed
the effort and was successful, but
New Iork's Thanksgiving did not CO.
incide with New England's, which I'M
til the middle of the last century, oc-
CURED a week later thar the En-
pire states. Searching old newspaper
files to learn how Thanksgiving was
celebrated in these times, l found the
other day a statement that in 1858
10000 people, after eating one
Thanksgiving dinner in New York