The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1933-11-17
: Home for Thanksgiving"

in Philadelphia which was then the national
capital he called upon his fellow Americans to
"set apart and observe Thursday, the nineteenth
day of February next as day of public thanks
giving and prayer, and on that day to meet
together and render their sincere and hearty
thanks to the Great Ruler of Nations for" long
list of blessings which the country was then
enjoying.
The example set by Washington was followed
by his successor John Adams, who proclaimed
two Thanksgiving days during his administration
lone on Wednesday. May 9, 1898, and the other
on Thursday, April Is, 1899. This custom, how
ever, was allowed to lapse during the two terms
of Thomas Jefferson. but it was revived by James
Madison who issued four such proclamations dur
ing his administration. The first of these set
aside the third Thursday in August of 1912, the
second named the second Thursday in Septem
ber 1913, as the day; the third designated Thurs
day, January IL. 1914 and the fourth and last
set aside the second Thursday in April 1915.
Thus it will be seen that although Thanksgiv-
ing days by Presidential. proclamation in the
main picked upon Thursday as the day of the
week for such an observance, the month varied
greatly and there was no connection between
these Thanksgiving days and the annual observ-
ance established by the Pilgrims. No other
Presidents after Madison seemed to have had
occasion for proclaiming a Thanksgiving day
the custom and to link up the proclaimed Thanks
giving day with the Pilgrim custom by establish
ing the last Thursday in November as a national
feast day and day for giving thanks.
But before adding another star to the crown Of
the Great Emancipation, heed now the ancient
French admontion, "Cherchez la Femmew It is
here that Sarah Josepha Hale comes into the
Thanksgiving picture. For 1t was Mrs. Hale, ma
tive of Newport N. H., known wherever English is
+ TYOA IA
Lamb" editor of the famous magazine, Godey's
Lady's Book, and pioneer In educational and
civic problems of her day who, by canvassng
the governors of states and territories and re-
conciling sectional differences and by appeal
ing constantly to successive Presidents, brought
about the establishment of Thanksgiving day as
national holiday on the last Thursday in
November.
Sarah Josepha Hale was far-sighted woman
in many respects. She was the first to advocate
women teachers in public schools. She demand
ed for housekeeping the dignity of a profession,
and put the term domestic science" into the
language She started the first day nursery. and
was the first to stress the necessity of physical
training for her SEX as well as the first to advo-
cate public Fairgrounds She founded the first
society for the advancement of womens wages,
better working conditions for women and the re-
duction of child labor
AS early as 1877 she began advocating ma
ton-wide observance of Thanksgiving day. "We
have too few holidays" she wrote at that time.
Thanksgiving, like the Fourth of July. should
be considered a national festival and observed
by all our people as an exponent OF our
republican Institutions"
But, 1t was not until 1916 that she began
her campaign through the editorial columns of
Godey's Lady's Book to hold such nationwide
celebration on a certain date and every year
from that time on she waged her campaign.
Early in the spring she would write letters to
the governors Of all the states and territories,
and to influential persons everywhere. asking
their assistance In making the last Thursday In
November, which had been Washington's choice,
universal holiday. In the hope of bringing
pressure to bear upon the governors. she next
opened correspondence with literally thousands
of private persons of influence, with senators and
congressman and the clergy.
In her effort for the establishment Of state
Thanksgiving she was almost Immediately sue.
cessful. By 1S49. the third. year of her cam
pagn most states and territories were keeping
individual festivals, but no attempt was made
to coincide the dates-Maine might celebrate