Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-11-29
THANKSGIVING.

Editor Times Republican: Thanks
giving day will be observed Thursday.
or perhaps it might be more appro-
pirate to say the day will be cele-
brated. for only very small per cent
of the people really observe the day as
it was intended by our forefathers who
instituted it.
Gradually we, as nation, have
drifted away from the idea that this
day is set apart as a day of thanks
giving and praise to the Creator Of all
good things, and have come to look
upon 1t rather as a day when we take
day off from business, eat turkey.
and have a good time generally ~
There are a few exceptions, however.
and in every community there are still
a few of the faithful who get together
each Thanksgiving morning and re-
turn thanks to the God who, during the
year, has blessed and prospered them.
And then so per cent of them, or more
go straightway and break the divine
command, BE We temperate, in all
things" which includes eating as well
as drinking.
The sman boy isn't the only one who
eagerly looks forward to the day with
visions OF roast turkey. plum pudding,
and other good things to eat, but the
older peopie-father. mother, grand
father and grandmother-are almost as
eager to sit down to a table laden with
all the good things procurable and all
seem to gorge their capacity for the
time being The weather at this time
has become just cold enough to give
them keen appetite, everything tastes
good, and the first thing they know
they have gorged themselves until they
feel stuffy ard puffy and uncomfort-
able, and have indigestion and sick
headache for a week, and are alto
gether miserable.
Now this rs all wrong The better
way to do is to divide your Thanksgiy-
ing dinner with some poor man or
woman, boy or girl, who would other
wise have to go without. There is no
better way for one to show his thank
tulness than to give cause to some one
else to be thankful. II. during the
past year. you have been blessed and
prospered in your work or your BUSH
ness, just fiji few baskets with good
things TO eat and then hunt up few
OF the deserving poor families In your
neighborhood and make each Of them a
present OF the material for Thanks
giving dinner. If you want to know
what true thankfulness is. find a poor.
hard working widow who Is supporting
a family<of children, and present her
with one Of these baskets. Watch the
tears of joy come 10 her eyes, tokens
of the thapkfuiness that Ia in her heart.
but which she can not express with her
tongue. See the children dance with
glee as they think Of the feast that IL
In store for them on the morrow. Try
II once and you Will feel SO good that
you won't care whether or not you ever
have a Thanksgiving dinner yourself
again.
There are so many people in this old
world who go thru life all wrapped up
In self, with never q thought for their
less fortunate but deserving brother Q!
sister, and who know nothing of the
Joy of lending helping hand oc-
casionally.
There Is about as much real char
lily in some peoples hearts as there
! IL In a SNOWFALL and, like the rich man
, Dives they begrudge their neighbol
even the crumbs that fall from the
! table. AS long as they and theirs are
provided for, others-often more de-
serving but less fortunate-can suffer
starve and die for all they care. They
are warm, well fed. comfortable and
shall we ray happy No, they are not
| truly happy. True happiness is not
companion OF selfishness-neyer. Only
those whohav love in their hearts car
be truly happy, and love and selfish
| ness never dwell together An the same
heart. They can not dwell together In
| harmony. and unless there is perfect