The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1919-11-26
IT WAS a patriotic and philan-

thropic widow who gave us our
national Thanksgiving day ana
---A- Philadelphia, Liberty's old CRADLE
was naturally the home OF the enter
prise. This heroine, who In the han
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 or
President Lincoln, she brought ofder
out of chaos. Let US first see how the
complications came about:
tiot, Turkeyless Thanksgiving.
Turkeyless and hot was our first ma
tonal 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, 1770. 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 deslg-
mated date be observed as day Of
national thanksgiving and prayer.
These committees appear to have been
members Of congress, except in ITS,
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 18, 1777, the
date appointed by congress, "remain
in its present quarters and that the
chaplains perform divine service with
their several corps and brigades."
Picturesque Haytime Feast.
A more festive program was ar.
ranged by the general the following
spring, when he ordered his troops to
observe May z, 1873, as a day Of
Thanksgiving for the aid given by
France 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
viii huzza Long live the king of
France" he directs. This huzza was
then to be followed by the booming Of
cannon, general discharge Of mus
kerry, another huzza, "Long live the
European powers !" then more cannon,
more musketry fire and final huzza,
"The American States!"
Two years of cur history saw two
Thanksgiving days each, and both were
wartime years. In 1776, May II and
December II were both designated,
while in 1868 Lincoln designated
Thursday, August 6, as 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 1852.
From Madison's time to Lincoln's
there were no national thanksgiving
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, Thanksgiy-
Ing day continued all the While to out