Year: 1872

Thanksgiving and its Observance.


In the homes Of the people and in the
churches Of the various religious denomina-
tions there was yesterday more general OBJ
servsnce of Thanksgiving Day than on any
former occasion. As time rolls by the soli-
tary religious holiday which has national
interest becomes invested with moro interest
in the popular mind, and it's associations are
hallowed by the memories. gay or
sad, which the past has entwined
with it. We are naturally inclined
to be retrospective, and even the
in his career to look back with regret over the
waste of time. In the hustle of our feverish
life there are few opportunities to cultivate
those gentle and tender memories which
spring up amid me-honored celebrations with
their scenes of innocent festivity into which
tradition has woven that charm which an
tiquity alone can give--a feeling difficult
to account for, that is yet the very
essence of our enjoyment. Like all other
human institutions time is exerting
its influence over Thanksgiving Day,
and people are beginning to associate with it
more and more the idea of festival. The
traditionary turkey and the assembled guests
enter more into our conceptions of it than the
more solemn rites of religion. These, how
ever, are not neglected, though the growth of
q social and even fantastical tendency in
the celebration of the day is becoming more
marked year by year. Perhaps the most pleas
ing and humanizing observance of the day is the
custom Of assembling the poor and wretched


in the various charitable institutions of the
city and making the day for them one of
unusual happiness-a day to be remembered
as the sad year advances through its weary
round, cycle of misery, with one recurring
bright joyous day, when the tears of the
wretched are dried by the kind, charitable
souls who spread an annual feast for the poor
It will be seen by the accounts published else
where that the entertainment Of poor children
was carried out pretty generally. The relig-
ious bodies and charitable institutions seemed
to vie with each other in the extent to which
this feature was carried, and in some instances
40 AAicLy uD AAitCOA huANlON pun SAllulOA oup
down to enjoy the substantial fare provided
for them by the kindness and thoughtfulness
of the more prosperous part of the commu-
nifty. Of all modes of returning thanks to the
benefcent Creator for the blessings He has be-
slowed on the nation and on individuals, this
tender charity toward the suffering ones will
be most acceptable to Him who loves the
poor. Nor can the effect of such
reunions as those that mark the celebration of
Thanksgiving and bring the wretched into
contact with their happier fellow citizens fail
to exercise most healthy influence on the
moral tone of those who ore most exposed to
temptation. It is well that the young ones
whose fate has been cast in the midst Of
suffering and misery and vice should learn
that the rich and prosperous sympathize with
them and are willing to aid them
in the battle of life And these pleas
ant and humanizing reunions let in the
light Of hope on the dark spots of our civili-
zation where else there would be nothing but
gloom and despair. We must not estimate
the value of the good done by this gathering
together Of the children of misfortune by the
mere physical pleasure which good dinner
affords them, but rather by the moral effect on
the children that is exercised by the hope Of a
brighter future, and the knowledge that in
their darkest hour of suffering they will meet
sympathy and support from their fellow men
il only they will strive to merit it.


A Straw! Straw!


We are not particularly ambitious to fill the