The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-11-28

vt WAS patriotic and philan-
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 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, Turkeyless 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 &C.
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 day of
national thanksgiving and prayer
These committees appear to have been
members of congress, except in IT'S
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 thai
his army on December 10, 1777, thu
date appointed by congress, "remail
in its present quarters and that thu
chaplains perform divine service will
their several corps and brigades."
| Picturesque Maytime Feast.
A more festive program was al
ranged by the general the following
spring, when he ordered his troops t.
observe May z, 1878, as day o
thanksgiving for the aid given b,
France to the patriotic cause. HAP
PLY, his orderly book" outlining il
great detail the ceremony to be oh
served has been preserved.
upon signal given the whole arm
will huzza Long live the king c
France" he directs. This huzza wa
then to be followed by the booming Q
cannon, general discharge Of mus
kerry, another huzza, ''Long live tn
European powers!" then more cannon
more musketry fire and final huzzs
'The American Statesp
Two years Of our history saw tw
Thanksgiving days each, and both wer
wartime years. In 1776, May II an
December IL were both designated
while in 1868 Lincoln designate
Thursday, August 6. as speci,
Thanksgiving day in advance Of tn
autumnal feast Of the last Thursday
November. The summer holiday wa
special thanksgiving for victory, {
had been, in fact, the only nation,
Thanksgiving day In 1862.
From Madison's time to Lincoln
there were no national thanksgiving
proclaimed by presidents. although II
festival was observed annually in Ne
England and in New York, as also
the scattered Episcopal congregation
whose Book Of Common Prayer sine
1889 has designated the first Thursds
in each November for giving thanh
in the churches unless civil authorit
should designate another date for tn
purpose.
Greatest of Festivals.
In New England. where it had bee
an institution since 1921, Thanksgi
ing day continued ali the while to on