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Show I THANK8QIVING. I In tho journal of Charles Follen, I ono of tho earliest of Gorman scholars I and Idealists to seek this country for Mz an environment where liberty of H .thought and speech might be had, he W ' Is found recording, among his other B impressions of the New England -where ho lived, this: 'Nov. 20th, ' ;1827: On Thanksgiving day tho B , 'members of every family In Now H ' England meet, If possible, at tho H house' of the head of the family. In H tho morning there Is a service In all H the churches. The day Is appointed H .by the. governor. All congregations H are invited to celebrate it; and men are requested to abstain from all H business which is inconsistent with tho colobratlori of tho day. Tho poor-H poor-H est families are provided for by the rich, on that day, that thoy may Join HJ In tho universal rejoicing. Instead HJ of tho Easter lamb, a turkey." HJ i. Far and wide, wherever Now-Eng- HJ ; landers have gone, tho feast-day the Pilgrims set up has gone, with an HJ authority disputed today by tho cele-HJ cele-HJ - b ration of Chritmas and Easter, but. HJ , nevertheless, universal throughout HJ tho land, and losing none of its social HJ and ethical aspects; albeit on its HJ ecclesiastical sldo it has somowhat HJ lost it's grip, if tho size of congrega-Hi congrega-Hi Hons on tho morn of tho festal day H is a fair test. J Tho abiding value of the day lies in HJ: its rcsponso to permanent needs of HJ men the need of showing gratitude HJ for blessings received if our life is HJ ' to bo saved from sordidncss and sol- HJ flshness; tho need of strengthening J ties of kinship if life is to bo saved HJ from anarchistic Individualism, un- HJ1 dermlnlng tho family as well as the BJ"' Btate; and tho need of human recog- BJ ' nltion of Providence in personal and BJ'- national affairs, and regular comparl- BJ son of personal and national conduct BJdr with abiding spiritual and ethical BJk ideals. All these needs Thanksgiving BJ . day meets if observed in a right spirit. BJ Never sinco tho pioneers landed on BJ ; our shores liavo wo, as a people, had BJy so much in tho way of material pro3- BJ' pcrlty to bo thankful for, or to plan BJ .to spend in wicked or righteous ways. BJ ; Never was the heart of tho people BJ so set Upon growth in Intelligence, BJ p 'sobriety, and humane conditions ot BJ ! life for all men. BJ Never since we becamo a nation BJ . have wo counted as positively and BJ powerfully in tho affairs of con- BJ L . tinents beyond seas as now we do. BJ j Never havo wo had more unity of BJ -spirit between sections within tho BJ , .. nation, between citizens of all par- BJ 1 ties, and adherents of many sects. BJ Ne.vcr havo wo had political leaders BJ tmoro conspicuously trusted on the BJ ground of their devotion to tho Inter- BJ csts of the many as over against tno BJ Interests of tho few. BJ ' Never was the science of govern- BJ ment taught as much to our youth; BJ nover was our democracy as ready as BJ it is now to accopt tho advice of ex- HJ ports. BJ Never has art In its manifold forms BJ been so highly rated or adequately re- BJ , warded. HJ Never has literature good and bad fl been as Inexpensive or as widely HJ circulated. HJ Never havo men of so many races, BB from so many lands, blended In loy- HJ alty to one common weal; and BB : Never havo applied scienco and the BB spirit of tho Good Samaritan so joined BB to protect, succor, and save weak, BH bruised, or despairing humanity. BH Nevertheless, as President Ilooso- HH volt points out In his call for observ- BH anco of Thanksgiving day on tho 30tn, HH tho nation has her foes, foes within BH more dangerous than any foes wlth- HH but. Theoretical materialism as a BH philosophy wanes in prestige, but BH practical materialism will wax under H present and future increment of H wealth unless wo hold fast to Ideal-ism Ideal-ism In the making and spending HH wealth.. Tho passion for educa If it overemphasizes a utilitarian conception of it, may become a curse. International prestige and power rightly used may bless humanity; selfishly or wantonly used thoy may curso it. Toleration between sections, political parties, and religious sects is right up to a certain point, but when it becomes mere sentimentality, aiid obscures fundamental distinctions distinc-tions that aro constant', It becomes ovll. Popularity with tho people for political leadership which rest's on service of tho people for their sake Is splendid; when rendered for self's sake It Is demagogic and dangerous. It Is not a year when men who havo stolen public lands throughout the west, or managed eastern trust funds for private enrichment, or "bossed" cities for ambition's or self's sako will bo thankful; yet they well might bo, for their punishment now may save them from a later and worse fato. If modern modes of locomotion anu communication facilitate the dispersion disper-sion of families to tho ends of tho earth, they servo equally well to bring them together when occasion calls; and tliero nover comes a call which tho genuine American hears with more zest or responds to with less senso of sacrifice or perfunctoriuess than tho summons back to tho old homestead for tho most domestic and most religious of all our national fests. Harper's. n |