The Dolores star., 1920-11-19

served and smiled as women always smile when
Il dinner is success. The few children of the
colony chung to the womens skirts and looked in
awe at the Indians, who had come in fun regalia
-pumed heads, painted faces and with bows and
QuiverS at their sides.
Dinner finished, tables were cleared and the
rested their backs against stumps to let
digestion have its way. But the Indians who
hadn't inherited digestions. decided it was time
to dance SO they yclped and jumped and danced
around 10 the delight of the settlers and the
fright Of the children.
Capt Miles Standsh the same who lost
bride by proxy, led his company of twenty
soldiers and drilled them before the Indians.
The little band went through its maneuvers and
as climax fired couple of saivos from their
matchbox muskets. The Indians cheered Justify.
and crowded around the captain while he at
tempted to explain to them the mechanism of his
blunderbus.
Then, now, sports part of the OBJ
servance Of the day. In clear space eapng,
running and other athletic games staged.
The Indians laid aside their fur clonks and the
colonists peeled off their jackets and contested
for the honors. Evidently records were low
cred, for the official score books have nothing in
them concerning this meet.
In the course of three hundred years the cee-
bration of Thanksgiving has become a national
custom. Its observance grew gradually and not
until the Civil national Thanks
renee. The presidents general Thanksgiving
proclamation is supplemented by that of the
governors OF the states.
In 1871 the Thanksgiving recommendation took,
for the first time, the form and name of a proca-
nation. On September 10 Roger Sherman
onded by John Witherspoon, moved that Thursday
December -, be selected as day of thanksgiving.
This Roger Sherman is unique in our history in
asmuch as he is the only man who signed all four
of the Great Documents Articles of Assoca-
tfa1n Of f'n,, III, ts.,,,
laratlon of Independence; 1776, and Constitution,
1857
The official growth of the Thanksgiving Day
observance quite gradual The Massachu-
sets Bay Colony officially designated such n cee-
bration in 1890, Connecticut followed example in
1889 and the Dutch of the New Netherlands i'm
February. 1G44.
The day of observance varied, some of the
colonies holding their Thanksgiving early as
July and Others late February but by
degrees, it came to the great harvest celebration
thus preserving the true significance of the first
Thanksgiving Day.
The first officially appointed Thanksgiving
Day observed by the whole nation was the twenty
sixth of November, 1883, which George Washing
ton proclaimed day for rendering the thanks
of the people to Heaven for the good fortune that
theirs at that time. Washington had been in
office just six months the first President of the
United States.
This document Is couclled In an exalted strain
that should bear its message anew to every Ameri-
can today. After brief preamble, the proclama-
ton says
Now, therefore, l do recommend and assign
Thursday, the twenty-sXth Of November next to
be devoted by the people of these states to the
service of that great and glorious Being who Is the
beneficent author of all the good that was that Is
or that will be- That may then unite I'm rem
dering unto Him sincere and humble thanks
for His kind care and protection of the people OF
this country previous to their becoming a nation
for the signal and manifold mercies and favorable
interpretations of His providence in the course and
conclusion OF the late war; for the great degree
of tranquility, union and plenty which we have
since enjoyed; for the peaceable and rational
manner in which have been enabled to establish
constitutions Of government for safety and
happiness. and particularly the national one now
lately instituted for the civil and religious liberty
with which blessed md the means we
have Of acquiring and difrusIng knowledge and,
In general. for all the great favors which He hath
been pleased to confer upon us.
"And also that may then unite In most
humbly Offering our prayers and applications to
the great Lord and Ruler of nations, and beseech
Him to pardon national and other transgres-
siOns; to enable all, whether In public or
private stations. to perform several duties
properly and punctually; to render our national