The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1933-11-24
Home for Thanksgiving"

humble thanks-for His kind care and protection
of the People of this country previous to their
becoming nation-for the signal and manifold
merces, end the favorable interpretations of His
providence which experienced in the course
and conclusion of the late WARRIOR the great
degree of tranquility, union and plenty, which
we have since ,enjoyed-for the peaceable and
rational manner in which we have been enabled
TO establish constitutions of government for
safety and happiness, and particularly the ma
tfonal One now lately instituted :. :"
1t so happened that Thursday November 26,
1884, the last Thursday in November that
year and that fact was to have an important
bearing on the later history of Thanksgiving
day. shall see farther on in this article.
But although Washington was the first to issue
a Presidential proclamation for a national
Thanksgiving day, he did not establish prece-
dent which was followed consistently. During
his second administration, he again issued a
Thanksgiving proclamation. On January i, 1895,
in Philadelphia, which then the national
capital, he called upon his fellow Americans to
"set apart and observe Thursday, the nineteenth
day of February next as a day of public thanks
giving and prayer, and 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 followed
by his successor John Adams, who proclaimed
two Thanksgiving days during his administration
one 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 three were more for day of public
humiliation and prayer because of the nations
tribulations in the form of the second war with
England but the fourth was day Of real thanks
giving that peace had come at last. The first set
aside the third Thursday in August of 1872 the
second named the second Thursday in Septem-
Der. 1873 as the day; the third designated Thurs
day. January II, 1914. and the fourth and last
set aside the second Thursday in April, 1915
Thus 1t 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 observance, the month varied
greatly and there was no connection between
these Thanksgiving days and the annual observ-
established by the Pilgrims No other
Presidents after Madison seemed to have had
occasion for proclaiming Thanksgiving day
and it remained for Abraham Lincoln to resume
the custom and to link up the proclaimed Thanks
giving day with the Pilgrim custom by establish
ing the last Thursday in November as 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 admonition, "Cherchez la Femmel" 1t is
here that Sarah Josepha Hale comes into the
Thanksgiving picture. For it was Mrs. Hale,
tive of Newport N A.. known wherever English is
spoken as the author Of MARY Had a Little
Lamb" editor of the famous magazine Godeys
Lady's Book, and pioneer In educational and
civic problems of her day whe by canvassing
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
a 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 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 women's wages.
better working conditions for women and the re-
duction of child labor.
AS early as 1927 she began advocating ma
tion-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 ii was not until 1916 that she began
her campaign through the editorial columns of
Godey's Lady's Book to hold such nationwide
celebration 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