The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-11-27


thropic widow who gave us our
national Thanksgiving. day and
Philadelphia, Liberty's old cradle,
was naturally the home of the enter
prise. This heroine, who in the Hall
of Fame deserves a place amongst the
country's mothers, was Sarah JOsepha
Hale, an editor whose Ladies' Maya
zine and Godey's Lady's Book gave
unto our grandmammas the latest
styles in hoops and pantalettes.
When Mrs. Hale got down to work
on the Thanksgiving problem that item
on Uncle Sans calendar was badly
muddled, but finally, with the aid Of
President Lincoln, she brought order
out of chaos. Let us first see how the
complications came about:
Hot, TurI<eyIess Thanksgiving.
Turkeyless and hot was our first ma.
tional Thanksgiving day, appointed by
congress, although held in midsummer
July 20. 1775-it set the Thursday
precedent, religiously followed during
the past two generations, although not
Immediately respected, for the Sec
Ond national Thanksgiving day oc-
Cured Friday, May II, 1776. Two
years later Wednesday was the day,
but after Washington took control Of
affairs Thursday was preferred.
The nations first official thanks pro-
moters were committees, usually of
three, appointed by the continental
congress in the days before we had a
proclamation recommending to the
governors Of the states that a desig-
mated date be observed as a day of
national thanksgiving and prayer
These committees appear to have been
members Of congress, except in 177s,
when the two chaplains Of congress
were directed to prepare the draft.
Washington helped to promote the
nations thanks on two notable occa-
sions before he became presIdent-the
first being during his desolate winter
at Valley Forge, when he directed that
his army on December 10, 1777, the
date appointed by congress, remain
In its present quarters and that the
ehaplains perform divine service with
their several corps and brigades."
Picturesque Maytlme Feast.
A more festive program was ar.
ranged by the general the following
spring, when he ordered his troops to
observe May z, 1878, as a day of
thanksgiving for the aid given by
, rance to the patriotic cause. Hap
ply his orderly book" outlining in
great detail the ceremony to be OBJ
served has been preserved.
Upon signal given the whole army,
will huzza Long live the king of
France" he directs. This huzza was
then to be followed by the booming of
cannon, a general discharge of mus
kerry, another huzza, "Long live the
European powersw then more cannon,
more musketry fire and final huzza,
r "The American States! !"
Two years Of our history saw two
Thanksgiving days each, and both were
wartime years. In 1776, May IL and
December II were both designated,
while in 1868 Lincoln designated
Thursday, August 6, as a special
Thanksgiving day in advance of the
autumnal feast of the last Thursday in
November. The summer holiday was
a special thanksgiving for victory, as
had been, In fact, the only national
Thanksgiving day in 1862.
From Madison's time to Lincoln's
there were no national thanksgivings
proclaimed by presidents, although the
FESTIVAL was observed annually in New
England and in New York, as also in
the scattered Episcopal congregations,
whose Book Of Common Prayer since
1889 has designated the first Thursday
In each November for giving thanks
in the churches unless civil authority
should designate another date for this
purpose.
Greatest Of Festivals.
In New England, where it had been
an institution since 1921, Thanksgiv-
ing day continued all the while to out