Evening star., 1946-11-24
CHE 9unior Star
lust Between
Ourselves
BY Philip H. Love-

Not the least of the many things
for which we can be thankful this
Thanksgiving Is the fact that, for
a change, Thanksgiving is really
Thanksgiving %
No, I'm not trying to write like the
late Gertrude Stein. I'm only trying
to report that I, for one, am glad
that President Truman has restored
Thanksgiving to its traditional day,
the last Thursday of November.
It was President Lincoln who
made Thanksgiving a regular ma
tional holiday. Previously, the is
suance Of Thanksgiving proclama-
tions had been left to the Governors
Of the various States. The custom
had been more widely observed each
year, and, by 1858, had spread to Is
States and 2 Territories. In 1864,
Lincoln proclaimed the last Thurs
day Of November day Of national
Thanksgiving, and all succeeding
Presidents followed bis example.
All, that is, but Franklin D. Roose-
welt. He moved the holiday a week
ahead, to the next-to -the-last-week
Of November. Last year, President
Truman did likewise.
Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but, for
some reason. I just couldn't get used
to the early Thanksgiving. Whether
I worked or had the day of, whether
I ate turkey or hot dogs and saur-
kraut, I just couldn't make myself
feel Thanksgivingy. And apparently
the people of Virginia were equally
hidebound, for they went right on
celebrating Thanksgiving on the
traditional day.
Among the things with which I
tinker as part of my job on The
Star is the rotogravure section.
Last fall my associates and I con-
suited several calendars and were
happy to find them unanimous in
designating the last Thursday of
November-the 29th-as Thanks
giving The time to publish a
Thanksgiving cover on the roto
section, therefore, was the Sunday
before the holiday-the 25th.
But, alas, the calendars turned
out to be in error Thanksgiving, by
presidential proclamation. again was
week earlier than the traditional
day-that is, on the 22d. That
meant the Thanksgiving cover had
to be used week sooner than
planned-on the 18th-or not at all.
The result was a mess that could
be Strengthened out only by a ma
jor operation, and by the time it
was over I would have cheerfully
dispensed with Thanksgiving alto
gether.
| This year everything Is different
Not only do we have a great deaI
more for which to be thankful thar
at any other time since the wal
began, but there can be no xnisun.
derstanding about the dag cn which
to offer our thanks. The calendar,
and the President-and even ths
State Of Virginia-are in full accord
Thanksgiving is this coming Thurs.
day, the 28th, the last Thursday ol
November.
II this year were like last veal
. and the several previous years, this
Thanksgiving would have been last
Thursday, and you and I wouldn't
have this Thursday to look forward
to as Thanksgiving. Also, the peo-
pie of Virginia would be looking for
ward to this Thursday at the very
time when you and would be try
ing to forget all the turkey hash
we'd been obliged to eat since last
Thursday.
But, happily, this year is this year,
and this Thursday is Thanksgiving,
which means that Thanksgiving is
really Thanksgiving again, and 7.
for one, am feeling more than q
little Thanksgivingy about it al
ready.