The Washington herald., 1915-01-05
HISTORY BUILDERS.
A New Version of the Origin of
Thanksgiving Day.
written Expressly for The Washington HeraldJ
BY DIR. r. j. EDWARDS.

Thanksgiving Day.
Written Expressly for The Washington HeraldJ
BY DIR. f. J. EDWARDS.
At a recent examination OF some young
women who were qualifying for serving
as teachers. the question was asked,
What is the origin of Thanksgiving
Day." Some Of the young women con-
fessed their inability to answer the ques-
ton. Two or three were persuaded that
the correct answer was that the national
thanksgiving was established shortly af-
ter the close of the civil war for the pur-
pose of rendering thanks for the return
OF peace. Not one Of the young women
had ever heard that our Thanksgiving
Day was first instituted by the Pilgrim
Fathers at Plymouth, Mass. This incl
dent, which was brought to my attention
a few days ago, reminded me OF con-
versation / once had with Chauncey NJ.
Depew, who narrated to me the manner
in which the national observance Of a
day OF thanks and feasting began.
1T was in the year 1868 that the first
Presidential proclamation setting apart
a day of thanksgiving was issued" said
Senator Depew. Before that time, all
of the New England States, and 1 think
all of the States which were settled by
people who went to new States from New
England. observed a day in November as
a day OF thanksgiving, and this was US
ually made legal holiday by proclama-
ton issued by the governors of the
States. 1t was exclusively q State insti-
tuition.
Some time in the fall of 1868 it occur
red to a member of President Lincoln's 8
Cablnet-I think il was Seward-that il
would be a fine thing II the President
were to issue a proclamation in which he
set apart a day in November for thanks
giving. President Lincoln was called upon
one evening by the Cabinet officer to
whom this idea had occurred. He put on
a very grave face, as though the matter
were of serious import, and he said to
Lincoln that the administration at Wash
ington had been so often accused Of vio-
lating State rights that it wouldn't make
much difference II an additional charge
of that kind were made. Therefore, he
was going to propose that the President
venture to take that step. Lincoln was
not long in perceiving that there was
something humorous behind this assump-
ton OF a serious manner and he said,
Let me hear what State right you now
propose TO violate
THE President was then told that many
of the States had for years by proclama-
ton OF thelr governors set apart day
for Thanksgiving and feasting and II
might be a good idea for the President of
the United States to proclaim a national
day of that kind.
Lincoln took at once to the idea and
he said there wasn't any reason why
the President should not feel gratifica-
ton for all our people had enjoyed, and
should ask the people to share with him
in that qualification. There wasn't any
reason why he shouldn't proclaim that.
He Immediately prepared and signed a
proclamation, which was issued a day
or two later. That is the way the ma
tional observance OF a day OF thanks
giving began in the United States"
The credit OF this method Of designating
a day for national thanksgiving is usual
ly given to Mrs. Sarah Josepha Hale, of
Philadelphia, editor of Godeys Lady's
Book.
Copyright. 1915. By E. ]. Edwards. All rights re-
sTTCd.
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell THE
Story of an Historic Cane