Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-11-30

tunate enough to bring not only food
but also the glad news that ship
had been seen bearing in th..t direc-
ton. In acknowledgement of all
these blessings, the grateful colon
lists held a public service of prayer
and thanksgiving.
The next recorded Thanksgiving
Day. we find. was in 1888, when the
Massachusetts Bay Colony set apart
day of prayer and thank offerings.
Eleven years afterwards, in 1644, we
find the first record of a public Dutch
Thanksgiving Day. 1t was when Will
liam Kieft, then governor of the New
Netherlands, set a special day, in
gratitude for the safe return of the
Dutch soldiers, after a battle with
the Connecticut Indians.
1t is not until 1868 that we find in
the Plymouth records the first
Thanksgiving proclamation which
makes mention of the harvest. These
are the words 1T has pleased God,
in some comfortable measure, to bless
us, in the fruits of the earth" And
November 25 was the day appointed
for the Thanksgiving celebration.
For two centuries, probably, the
day was observed mainly in New Eng
land. The governors were in the hab-
it of issuing yearly proclamations.
That the Pilgrims own State always
specified God save the commonwealth
of Massachusetts,
1t is claimed by some that it is to
the people of Connecticut that we owe
the fact of Thanksgiving's being
brought down to us as an annual eel
ebration, rather than as mavable
feast. At all events, the Connecticut
settlers appear to have found many
a cause for gratitude, even in years
of general misfortune. However, in
1875, on account of the Indian mas
sacres, there was no celebration held
in Connecticut. And during King
Phillips War the ceremony was again
abandoned for the year. While the
Revolutionary war was in progress the
people and the Continental Army OBJ
served an annual Thanksgiving Day
by the proclamation of the Continent
al Congress.
Perhaps the most joyous Thanks
giving ever recorded in American an
nails occurred on May Z, 1878, when
the news came that France had made
a treaty of friendship and alliance
with the thirteen States of the Amer
lean Union. General Washington pub
lished the proclamation, and arrang-
ed a Thanksgiving program of man
euvers by the army, following the
service of thanks. The program was
executed with precision, and we are
told the effect was brilliant and pic.
turesque in the extreme. For bright
May sun was shining overhead, new
colors were flying, Lord Sterling and
General Freen, with their staff officers
took part in the celebration, and Lady
Sterling and her daughter, and Mrs
Green, together with many ladies OF
the neighborhood surrounded Mrs
Washington and viewed the pageant
General Washington invited the Of
: ficers and guests to a banquet in the
afternoon. Lafayette and Other
French officers had taken part in the
| events of the day. The gallant French
: patriot was in the highest spirits, il
} is related, and gladness reigned. Sim
liar scenes of thanksgiving and fes
tivity took place, far and wide. as the
, good news travelled from State Il
State, and town to town.
: The happiness was especially mark
: ed. in contrast to the winter of bit
ter want and of narrowing anxiet,
: through which General Washington
J and his army had just passed at Val
ley Forge, while their enemies were
living in luxury. For whole weel
! part of the army had had to go with
J out meat of any kind, and the entire
body of troops were so short of cloth