Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1923-11-15
NATION HAS MUCH FOR WHICH
TO BE THANKFUL-COOLIDGE

President in Thansgiving Proclama-
tion says Bounty of Almighty Had
Singularly Favored this Country,
President Coolidge's Thanksgiving
proclamation recently issued says
By the President of the United
States of America
A PROCLAMATION
The American peopl from their
earliest days have observed the wise
custom of acknowledging each year
the bounty with which divine Provi-
dence has favored them. In the be-
ginning, this acknowledgment was
a voluntary return Of thanks by the
community for the fruitfulness of
the harvest. Though our mode of
life has greatly changed this custom
has always survived. 1t has made
Thanksgiving day not only one of
the oldest but one of the most char
acteristic observances of our country
On that day in home in church, in
family and in public gatherings, the
whole nation has for generations
paid the tribute due from grateful
hearts for blessings bestowed.
"To center our thought in this way
upon the favor which we have been
shown has been altogether wise and
desirable. 1t has given opportunity
justly to balance the good and the
evil which we have experienced. In
that, we have never failed to, find
reasons for being grateful to God
for generous preponderance of the
good. Even in the least propitious
times, broad contemplation of our
whole position has never failed to
disclose overwhelming reasons for
thankfulness. Thus viewing our
situation, we have found warrant for
more hopeful and confident at
titude toward the future
.1n this current year, we now ap-
proach the time which has been ac-
cepted by custom as most fitting for
the calm survey of our estate and
the return Of thanks. We shall the
more keenly realize our good for
tune II we will, in deep sincerity give
to it due thought, and more espec-
tally if we will compare it with that
of any other community in the
world.
1.-THE year has brought to our peo-
pie two tragic experiences which
have deeply affected them. One was
the death of our beloved President
Harding, which has been mourned
wherever there is realization of
the worth of high ideals, noble pur-
poses and unselfish service carried
even to the end of the supreme sac
rifce. His loss recalled the nation
to a less captious and more char
table attitude. 1t sobered the whole
thought of the country. A little
later came the unparalleled disaster
to the friendly people Of Japan. This
called fforth from the people of the
United States a demonstration of
deep and humane feeling. 1t was
wrought into the substance of good
works. 1t created new evidences of
our international friendship which
is a guarantee of world peace. 1t
reptenished the charitable impulse
of the country
"By experiences such as these
men and nations are tested and re-
fined We have been bless with much
of material prosperity. We shall
be better able to appreciate it if we
remember the privations others have
suffered, and we shall be the more
worthy of it, if we use it for theil
relief. We will do well then to rem
der thanks for the good that ha:
come to US and show by our action!
that we have become stronger, wisel
and truer by the chastenings which
have been imposed upon us. We viii
thus prepare ourselves for the par
we must have in a world which for
ever needs the full measure of ser
vice. We have been mos favoret
people. We ought to, be a mos
generous people. We have been I
most blessed people. We ought t.
be a most thankful people.
Wherefore, l, Calvin Coolidge
President of the United States, d.
hereby fix and designate Thursda,
the 29th day of November a
Thanksgiving Day, and recommen'
its general observance throughou
the land. 1t is urged that the peopl
gather in their homes and Nthei
:. usual places of worship, give expires
ion to their gratitude for the bene
fits and blessings that graciou
i Providence has bestowed upon theI
| and seek the guidance Of Almight