New Britain herald., 1920-11-13
THE OBSERVER
 MAKES RANDOM OBSERVATIONS
THE CITY AND ITS PEOPLE.

HE Cll1 AIN
 One factor which has contributed to the business depression in New Britain is the decline in export trad ing. Nearly every factory here has experienced a dwindling in orders from expert houses and as this trade has cut an important figure during the past five years particularly it can be understood that falling off in shipments to other sections of the earth brings the bank balances and volume of production down to new low levels for that period.
 Unfavorable rates of exchange have been a barrier between the United States and some other lands. Foreign CTS have preferred to ''go shopping abroad in some instances they have found their venture worth while. In many cases they have returned from their shopping" empty handed but because of the unfavorable exchange they have decided not to buy at all.
 Export business can probably be described being in a condition of stagnation. New York houses engaged in shipping American made products abroad find their credits restricted by the general tightness of money and consequently lI6y are lO Duy in large consignments even if they could find customers.
 Cancellation of orders has also played its part toward purchasing gloom. Heads of export departments in factories approach their mail with feelings of trepidation knowing full well that someone has decided tEat he did not need that shipment for South America or some other country where cancellations seem to grow without sunlight or water.
 Rev. Dr. w. DeLoss Love. formerly of Hartford, and widely known in this city, has published book called 'The Fasts and Thanksgiving Days of New England" which has started a controversy concerning the exact manner in which what we now know as Thanksgiving day was observed by the early settlers Of Massachusetts is the popular belief that the Puri- tans set aside the day for prayer and praise for the fruitful harvests, but this view is not shared by the prom inent theologian who says the evil dence he finds goes to prove that, far from being day of prayer, a whole week was spent in joyful recreation. This week, it is said, was the fore runner of our daySof bountiful hospi- tality. grooming tables and praise 70 Heaven for an abundance of the good things of the world.
 Whatever may be the iconoclastic views of Dr. Love, his writings are in- teresting and carry with them no little weight because of the standing of the author. Referring to the first observ- ance in Colonial days, Dr. Love writes:
 Tt was not a day set apart for a religious service. but a whole week of festivitya No religious service is spoken of, and it is not likely that any was held othes than their customary morning devotions. The Sabbath serv- ices which bounded the week were probably permeated with the spirit of gratitude, and for aught we know they may have had thanksgiving day besides. This, however, was a week of rejoicing and pleasure. The Puritans would surely have been shocked at ''recrea tions'' during a religious season. They even had more respect for Christmas than that.
 Surely we will rid ourselves of the notion that they were consciously shaping the practices of their de- cendants and inaugurating the harvest festival of many millions. Ii was not a Thanksgiving day at all. judged by their Puritan customs, which they kept in 1862, but as we look back on it after nearly three centuries, it seems so wonderfully like the day we love that We claim it as the progeni tor of our harvest feasts
 The harvest festival at Plymouth was an inspiration Ii was not made: it was born. It did not look backward into the past, and as to the future, no one thought of the influence such a celebration would have. The present alone commanded tits wonderful autumnal season, its relief from anxiety, its food for those who had endured hunger.-this benediction of the New World revived their droop- ing spirits. They could serve God as truly on a holiday as on the Sabbath h in its services"
 Among the phenomena of the readiustment Is the sudden sudden adversion young wom- en seem to have taken to expen- sive and garish wearing apparel A year ago the younger members of the { gentler sex-and some of the older ones as well-were arrayed in gar
 ments which gave fathers and broth i CTS grave concern as to their sanity ! Not only were clothes dazzling in coloi ! combinations, but they appeared to be l made of the most delicate materials 1 unsuited for wear except at state i occasions where they would not be subjected to the grime and strain oi ' the workaday world.
 Today, Sister is a changed girl SC | far as her desire for extravagan
 dressing is concerned. She appears
 completely satisfied with less elabor.