The Washington herald., 1921-01-30

There is one day when all we
4 Americans who are not self
made 60 back 20 the old home to eat
salerstus biscuits and marvel how
much nearer to the porch the old
pump looks than it used to. Bless
the day. President Roosevelt gives
it to US. We hear some talk Of the
Puritans. but don't just remember
who they were. But we can lick
EN-, anyhow, IL they try to lano
again. Plymouth Rocks? Well.
that sounds more familiar. Lots Of
US have had to come down to hens
since the Turkey Trust got its work
in. But somebody in Washington
is leaking out advance Information
to 'em about these Thanksgiving
proclamations.
The big city east OF the cranberry
bogs has made Thanksgiving Day
an institution. The last Thursday
in November is the only day in the
year on which it recognizes the part
of America lying across the ferries.
1t is the one day that is purely
American. Yes, a day of celebra-
tion. exclusively Anne erican.
And now for the story which Is
to prove to you that we have tradi-
tions on this side of the ocean that
are becoming older at q much rap
ider rate than those of England are
thanks to our gft-up. and enter
prise.
Stuffy Pete took his seat on the
third bench to the right as you en-
ter Union Square from the east, at
the walk opposite the fountain.
Every Thanksgiving Day for nine
years he had taken his seat there
promptly at l o'clock. For every
time he had done SO things had
happened to him-Charles Dickensy
things that swelled his waistcoat
above his heart, and equally on the
other side,
But today Stuffy Pete's appear
ance at the annual trysting place
seemed to have been rather the re-
suit of habit than OF the yearly
hunger which, as the philanthro-
pists seem to think, afflicts the poor
at such extended intervals.
Certainly Pete was not hungry.
He had just come from a feast that
had left him of his powers barely
those of respiration and locomotion.
His eyes were like two pale goose
berries firmly imbedded in a swol-
len and grayy-smeared mask OF
putty, His breath came in short
wheezes: a senatorial roll of adipose
tissue denied a fashionable set to
his upturned coat collar. Buttons
that had been sewed upon his
clothes by kind Salvation fingers a
week before flew like popcorn.
strewing the earth around him.
Ragged he was. with a split shirt
front open to the wishbone; but the
November breeze, carrying fine
snowf1akes, brought him only a
grateful coolness. For Stuffy Pete
was overcharged with the caloric
produced by a super r-bountiful din
ner, beginning with oysters and
ending with plum pudding. and in
cluding Git seemed to htm) all the
roast turkey and baked potatoes
and chicken salad and squash pie
and ice cream in the world. Where
fore he sat, gorged. and gazed upon
the world with after-dinner con-
tempt.
The meal had been an unexpected
one. He was passing a red brick
mansion near the beginning of Fifth
avenue. in which lived two old la
dies Of ancient family and a rever-
ence for traditions. They even de-
MED the existence of New York. and
believed that Thanksgiving Day was
declared solely for Washington
Square. One Of their traditional hab-
its was to station servant at the
postern gate with orders to admit
the first hungry wayfarer that came
al aftAr fha 30
struck. and banquet him to a finish
Stuffy Pete happened to pass by on
his way to the park and the sene-
schals gathered. him ins and upheld
the custom of the castle.
After Stuffy Pete had gazed
straight before him for ten minutes
he was conscious Of desire for a
more varied field. of vision. With a
tremendous effort he moved his head
slowly to the, left. And then his
eyes bulsed out fearfully, and his
breath ceased, and the roushsbod
ends Of his short legs wriggled and
rustled on the gravel.
For the Old Gentleman was. COM
ing across Fourth avenue toward
his bench.
Every Thanksgiving Day for nine
years the Old Gentleman had come
there and found Stuffy Pete on his
bench. That was a thing that the
Old Gentleman was trying to make
a tradition of. Every Thanksgiving
Day for nine years he had found
Stuffy there, and had led him to a
restaurant and watched him eat 4
big dinner. They do those things in
England unconsciously. But this Is
a young country, and nine years is
not so bad. The Old Gentleman was
a statnch American patriot, ana
oonsidered himself n n{on.. d