The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-30
IN DAY OF THANKS
Like Massachusetts, COlOnlSts,
TOpekans Set Forth. .
But Local Pilgrims Eat Dinner
First, Then Hunt.
BEAUTIFUL DAY OF GRACE
Real Rest, Despite the High
Cost of Living Today.
SueciaI Prayer Services at
Many of Churches.
BEAUTIFUL DAY OF GRACE

Along in October of 1921, Governor
Bradford of the then new colony OIL
Massachusetts, and the settlers of the
colony. discovered to their intense sur
Dr;se that they were in very little dan
ger of starving to death during the
coming winter. The first bumper corn
crop of the United States had been
laid bv. There was lots of tobacco to
be shipped back to England The
woods we're full of berries and bears
fruits and game. and things looked as
tho a large percentage of the settlers
would survive the winter.
In fact. the prospects were so rosy
that one of the prominent men of the
colony wrote to friend in England
that IF we nave once but kIne'
horses and sheep, l make no question
but men might live as contented mere
as in any part of the world.
The usual method of celebrating
any such state of affairs was to pro-
claim d fast day, but Governor Brad
ford was nothing if not original,
wherefore four hunters were sent out
to bring in what game they might,
and q real feast was planned to take
place in November.
Football and personally conducted
turkey shoots cranberry sauce and
ce.etv: boycutts On turkeys and eggs:
food spe, ulators and champagne;
matinee and motor rides, all of them
reasonably typical OF the Thanksgiv
ing season Of today, were totally abb
sent from the celebration in 1921. In
fact. they were far from the mind of
the governor when he issued the first
Thankss v.ns proclamation.
The Custom Has Stood.
But the custom stood. as men be-
came more and more content to live
in America" For many years it was
chiefly confined TO the New England
states. In 1858 only rs states parti-
cipated in the holiday thru the pro-
clamations of their governors. Abra-
ham Lincoln, when he issued his pro-
clamatiOn IN 1864. first gave the day
national significance. Since that time
it has become true American holi-
- day. along with the Fourth of July.
Other feast and fast days are shared
by other nations. but Thanksgiving
and the Glorious Fourth are peculiar
to America
Wherefore. and for these reasons,
there is little doing in a business way
in Topeka today. Most of the stores
have been closed all day. while the
clerks and proprietors forsathcred N
the bosoms of their families, or on the
bleacherS at Lawrence or Manhattan
Official announcement was made
Wednesday that the Santa Fe general
offices and the shops would be closed
all day today. In the depots and the
passenger stations of the Santa Fe. the
Rock Island. the Union Pacific and the
Missouri Pacific. work is going on
much as usual Some of the local
freight trains on the Rock Island were
discontinued. and Il Sunday atmos-
phere generally was established.
City Offices Closed.
The city offices were closed. and
the employees there made holiday
whittier they listed. Mayor House
started his vacation early by not is
suing the customary Thanksgiving
proclamation for the city
At the postoffice no windows were
opened. and no deliveries were made
during the day. Banks were closed
thruout the day.
SPECIAL services were put on at
the Topeka churches. and the SER
vices, together with the traditional
timer. remained the last vestiges of
the original form of THANKSGIVING.
Pre-Thanksgiving indications were
that the turkey crop would not suffer
heavily in Topeka.
Too high. Going to eat chicken
Cor pork chops, or roast beef or sau-
sage, or ham and eggs, as the case
might be-, was the most common
prognosticatiOn of todays dinner
menu.
Like the Massa chusetts colonists. i
good many Topeka people depended
on their rifles to furnish forth the
Thanksgiving tables this year. Rab-
bits were never 50 plentiful so plump
and so easily to be had. Hardware
dealers report that despite the ruinous
cost of ammunition. not all of it Is
going 20 the belligerents across this
Atlantic and that many hunters
bagGed their own dinners from the
field.
railroad men report that there has
been a slight increase in passenger
traffic in the past few days as the
widely scattered families reassembleC
tho mselves for the annual homecom.
ing day of America. and most of the
children" middle-aged. married
baldheaded. wrinkIed. successful ol
failures will be home" today, from
the immune . ''estsA bIishments'
which they themselves cali home
scattered over the entire United
States.