New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-30
WHY GIVE THANKS!
By John II. Finley
tFrom The Coni.nenn


Not bcause of what we have received, but
because of what we have still an opportunity
to give, are we thankful.
Many years ago when boy on a prairie
farm / read between two summer seasons
and between Sabbaths, when | was permitted
to read only the Bible and The INTERIOR the
Georges" and "Bucolics" Of Virgil. | have
wished in maturer years that some one would
rise and light with the genius Of the poe.
modern scientific agriculture and It's con-
tribution to the happy Thanksgiving days OF
our nation But the first eclogue OF the
"Bucolics," the Thanksgiving ode Of 1ityrus
IA man Of poetic tastes and OF country
estate, who had prospered while poor
Meibnus had suffered from the deyastations
Of war;. has been recalled with its startlingly
selfish gratitude as something not TO be made
ours. As | come TO think Of our national
Thanksgiving Day find myself isateful that
with all our proud invoicing of our much
goods" and our congratulating ourselves on
the ease of shortened days our soul has not
been required of u.s." that we have still our
self-disciplined, spiritual vigor, which VIII
vet. as | believe, find how to express itself
in a policy that proves it loves its neighbor
as itself
But | will let some lines Of Virgil and my
own make my answer TO the question.
First Century, B. C.
When Tityrus two thousand years ago,
Reclining meath his beech-trees ample shade
To Melbeus, homeless made By war,
"a wandering Belgian Of pre-Christian dsys)'
Discoursed of plenteous peace and rustic
wealth,
And love Of country visioned as god.
He pledged his patriotic ardor thus,
AS recall a school-day rendering:
Sooner shall stays Craze buoyant In the SKY
Or seas in tree-tops leave their fish 10 die,
Sooner of Arar shall the Parthian drink,
Athirst the German kneel on Tigris's brink,
Than I'll forget thy face or lightly hold
Thy name, o guardian Of my field and fold
Twentieth Century, A. d.
The German presses toward the ancient
stream
That once as "Hiddekel" from Eden flowed
But now as "Tigris" dreams Of Nineyeh),
With iron helmet-cup in hand to drink
Beneath the burning sun Of Babylon;
His Asian ally, near old Parthas bounds,
Turns from the desert edge Of Syria's sands.
And seeks the "Arar" that is now the "Ssone
Whose sources lie beneath the Vosges, not Tar
From that fair chrstning font OF 81. DE- l.
Where first America" was writ In type
And craven on a New World map.
And still
In his exclusive ease sings Tityrus
Thanking his Providence for what augmenn
The Aocks and crops and stocks OF Tityrus.
While Melibeus wanders shelterless;
I"Sooner." he sings, shall Psrthia's neigheors
drink
OF that fair fount; sooner on Tigris's brink
Shal kneel the tawny Hohenzollern hosts
Tc quench their housekeeping their long
time boasts;
Sooner the Zeppelins in our own skies
Shall Craze, and U-boats in our harbors rise,
Than I'll forget thy face. who blessest me
With safe and bountiful neutrality.
Meanwhile o Melbeus, DER thy cause
Ny heart doth grieye. In proof: | give thee
gauze
TIC bind thy wounds, and eslories OF bread
Close measured, from my table. war-bespread;
And AmarylIis, sitting at my side,
Ny beauteous, precious, war-endowered orios,
Will knit thee coy'ring for thy weary feet
Since thou must walk in alien land ans
street"
Shall we. like Tityrus. In ease, stu sing
Such sslf-contented songs; nor do the thing.
High and courageous, mid the worlds red
wrong.
That makes our lands. ThsnksgVfng worth
song .--.---=.-=f