The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1915-11-25
The Spirit of Thanksgiving.

ndGlOu, GuduhIul, UAOuSHtl VI dAu WOlA
disposed. And out of our abundance
let there flow feeling Of mercy to all
men and spirit Of benevolence toward
those who are not so fortunately stu
ated''
The concluding paragraph of the pro-
clamation of Governor Phillip is a
theme that might well be made the text
of every Thanksgiving Day sermon
preached in the land. It breathes not
only the spirit of gratitude, but along
with it that twin spirit of helpfulness
The two represent the real spirit of
Thanksgiving Day. !"
In another place in his annual call to
the people of the state, Governor Phil
ipp says Thanksgiving is the Oldest
Of our national holidays. It's spirit pre-
ceded and gave rise to our more patri-
otto celebrations. 1t is the natural eX-
preston of a people whose ideals are
those of peace and industry. 1t is the
holiday of the pioneer, who, with all
his hardihood and self-reliance realized
that his good fortune is not all Of his
own making nor wholly due to any vir-
tue of his own"
We are prone to be ungrateful. To
take as our due from the hand of God
and from the nation which shelters and
protects us the blessings which give us
happy homes and chance to the pur-
suit Of happiness. We forget that 9TH
ers before us have made great sacrifices
that we might live in the luxury OF
today; we forget the debt that we owe
to those who built wisely that our lives
might be easier and happier.
Thanksgiving Day is particularly a
holiday of the church and the home
It's every tradition brings devotion-its
every suggestion is one of good cheer
1t mingles praise to God for blessings
past with hope of man for blessings
vet to come. 1t recalls from the man
and the woman the expression of all
that is best and purest. From its earli-
est observance it has brought the re-
union of families about the family fire.
side. The spirit Of the day has not
changed. Men may have forgotten at
times to gather in temples of worship
to give their expression of thanks due
but gathered about the family Preside
there has annually been showing of
this spirit which has made the day sa-
cred in the hearts of those who love the
ties that bind.
Kenosha has especial cause to be
thankful this year. Probably there
has never been year when the city
was so prosperous. The wheels of it's
industries have been humming to meet
the demand for their products. Boun-
tiful harvests have come to the farmer
and the man who tolls has found oppor
tunity for the work Of his hands by
which he might earn and give to those
he loved the best the comforts of home
and provide for them the chances of
that mental improvement which makes
possible the highest realization of the
work of life. Other cities may have
felt the touch of hard times and lack
of work but not so Kenosha.
Tomorrow scores, hundreds and even
thousands Of Kenosha families will
gather about the family Preside. The
events of the year will be recalled. In
some homes there has come the chasten-
ing rod of sorrow but even in this sor-
row there has been the reckoning hand
of hope.
Fathers and mothers, sons and daugh-
ters will get closer together for the day
and in this unison of the family they
will breathe forth the spirit of real
thanksgiving.
Thanks for material blessings must
abound but there is still that other
thanks for the sentiments which come
about the love of nation, home and
friends. Tt has been beautifully ex-
pressed by the Hoosier poet when he
sang:
"Let us be thankful for the loyal hand
That love held out in welcome to our
own,
When love and only love could under
stand
The need of touches we had never
known.
Let us be thankful for the longing eyes
That gave their secret to us as they
wept,
Yet in return found with sweet surprise,
Love IS kiss upon their lids, and, smiling
slept.
And let us, too, be thankful that the
tears
OF sorrow have not all been drained
away,
That through them, still, for all the
coming years
We may look on the dead face of To-
day."
chicago just has to have something
to get all het up over. It might as well
be the funeral of Joe Hillstrom as a
demonstration in favor of nom
enforcement of laws.