Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-11-29
A DAY OF THANKSGIVING.

mated by the President of the United
States. After the natinon's chieftaiI
proclaims the day, the governors q
the several states of the union, even
mayors and other officials, issue their
proclamation requesting the people to
join in a commemoration of one day in
the year, set aside for real and true
Thanksgiving.
This day is remarkably like many
other holidays during the years cat
eLdar, with an altogether mistaken
idea as to the real spirit of the oc-
casion. Tomorrow is Thanksgiving
day but in many cities and in many
ways 1t will not be recognized The
various college football elevens will
make the gala stands of the year on
the chosen gridirons, and a thousand
deyotees of the game will exchange
their dollars on the result of the
struggling teams Other cities will
find prize fights, and various other
modes of entertainment-all carefully
planned for a genuine, boisterous cele-
bration of Thanksgiving There seems
to be no need for going about the
street in deep mourning, yea with
sackcloth and ashes, but it does seem
that some other day in the year could
more properly be given over to these
pastimes.
Churches over the country will hold
services tomorrow, and with their
songs and sermons give thanks to
Him who has guided us safely over
"lifes tempestuous seas" to this good
hour. Folks who usually attend these
services have many things to be thank
full for; but the people who stay away
have many more reasons why they
should observe the day.
Some would say that it is nothing
but mere formality to gather in some
editice and there pay homage to the
God of all. But that Formally is rath-
er to be chosen than the spirit in
which some careless inhabitant of a
sinful world passes his day.
Americas greatest sin has been
great contributing force for the low
estimation in which she is held by
other nations of the earth. Peace is
wonderful, and there is much for
which to offer thanks. 1t wouldn't
surprise us to hear some person offer:
Thank God, for twenty cents cotton. g"
Mammon and selfshness are the deep
corroding influences at work on our
people. Not satisfied with six days in
which to labor and toll, earning a
daily bread-some desire the seven
to give vent to a trumped up belief
that one day is given for having big
time"
Tomorrow, the day of Thanksgiving,
as you pass along the street couple
your appreciation of life with flee.-
ing study of some of the people whom
you meet-and know. Run back
through your mind for a day, or a
week, or year, and there, in awful
reverence, you can wonder why they
are not Offering thanks-why they
oSOhlih5ly nave lOSl SlSll Vi ali except
pleasure and money. Invariably you
will see person who has made the
dollar standard of life, rather THAI
the ten commandments.
We are not talking in abstract
terms, or of people far away. They
are here-some of them are you:
neighbors, your best friends. YOU
envy them because of their position
position which the world is pleased
to term as society. But, if you are full
of the goodness of having done your
best, humble in your own estimation
of being thankful. you are rather t
be known than all forms of pompous
classes-though they think themselves
ordained by man as caste; class, 6
little "holier than thou"
| We all have Somathinu IN no thanE