The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-11-16

History records that this first national Thanks
giving day in New York was fair and warm even
though 1t was late in November. The festivities
opened with parade in the morning as Hamil-
ton had planned and the secretary of the treas
ury reviewed it from in front of Fraunces tavern,
that historic inn where Washington had said
farewell to his officers at the close of the Rev
olution. After the parade Hamilton was host at
a great feast in the tavern and it is this first
official Thanksgiving dinner to which we can
look back, but not with any great pride, for it
degenerated into disgraceful brawl
Hamilton could not be present for the entire
affair." He was to have remained long enough to
respond to toast and then leave for the Presi-
dents mansion, where his official presence was
required by his position in the Presidents cabi-
net. While most of the city had been holding its
noisy celebration, Washington had attended
church and at noon began to receive guests at
the mansion.
But Hamilton was late in arriving at his own
party and his guests, impatient to be at their
feasting sat down without him and began to eat.
Almost Immediately a disagreement arose among
the diners. certain Lieutenant St Clair, who
had toasted the festive day not wisely but too
well, felt called upon to assert, upon his honor
as gentleman, that he was 'perfecly SOBER"
Whereupon Alderman Tisdal Of the city council,
who had probably also been toasting the festive
day extensively, disputed the statement and
called upon St Clair to prove that he was sober.
st. Clair's retort was to seize a bottle from
the table and hurl it, not at Tisdal nor at anyone
in particular but at the whole company in gen.
eral. Fortunately 1t hit none of them but 1t did
throw the room into an uproar. And into the
tavern moment later walked their host, Alex
ander Hamilton, to look upon a shameful scene
in which food, glassware and china and guests
were all in heap.
Hamilton dreading the scandal that would re-
suit If the story Of the affair became known, set
about swiftly to restore order. Enough quiet
was obtained so that he was able to make his
speech. Then he departed, probably with a real
thanksgiving feeling in his heart to escape
from such guests. But unfortunately for Ham,
ilton rumors of the disorder in Fraunces tavern
had already reached Washington's ears and the
President was plainly disturbed by the fact that
what he had intended to be a quiet religious
holiday had been turned into rowdy affair by
the friends of his secretary Of the treasury.
SO when Hamilton arrived the President lost
no time in questioning him about what had TAX
en- place. When he learned that young soldier
Of the United States army had been injured In
disgraceful brawl, especially at a gathering pre-
sumably for the purpose Of giving thanks to God
for the blessings Of good government peace and
concord" his anger was aroused to the extent
that he demonstrated again, as he did when he
rebuked Charles Lee on the battlefield Of Mon
mouth that he knew how to use strong language
when the occasion called for 1t.
.'It is disgraceful. by --, sirl" spoke George
Washington. and there was nothing left for
Alexander Hamilton to do but meekly agree and
discreetly withdraw from the presence Of his
chief without further comment.
Thus did the political rivalry of two Of his
cabinet members have part In detracting from
the solemn character which our first President
had wished the first Thanksgiving day to have.
and although this may have had nothing directly
to do with 1t, the fact is that not for five years
thereafter did the President again proclaim an
other official Thanksgiving.
BY Western Newspaper Onion.