Show THE SPIRIT AND FEAST OF THANKSGIVING Sldd by side with the long unbroken un-broken custom handed down to us by our forefathers of setting apart annually an-nually a special day for Thanksgiving has also dwelt with us the Idea that we must have ns nearly na practicable the same kind of a feast ns that enjoyed en-joyed by tho first settlers upon these shores From mm a sentimental viewpoint view-point this theory Is undoubtedly correct cor-rect and would really work out beautifully beau-tifully wore it not for certain changed conditions affecting our supply of seasonable sea-sonable provisions A regulation plan of directions for getting up a proper Thanksgiving dinner oven this year would suggest the providing of oysters oy-sters turkeys chicken for chicken pic with vegetables fruits rich pastries and delicacies In abundance The Idea Is to arrange a composite meal which shall comprise as nearly as may bo tho various fruits and products of the a earth And a good and praiseworthy a idea It Is too If only everybody had the wherewithal to purchase these fruits but unfortunately this must bonn bo-nn oysterless and a turkoylcss Thanksgiving Thanks-giving for many persons Time causes contributing to this state of things cannot bo discussed hero nor docs It much matter to tho man who en tors a meat market amid sees a turkey 9t which ho longs to purchase for his family but which ho knows ho cannot afford Just why tho commodity with many others is so far beyond hili means Time thing Is ho knows it Is beyond his means anti therefore ho will havo to do without 1t Ho must to some extent give up the Idea of trying try-ing to imitate that first Thanksgiving a dinner In turn forest n In some respects tho preparation of that feast or the obtaining tho articles arti-cles comprised In it must havo been a comparatively simple matter Tho settlers had but to take down tho fowling piece go Into tho woods and bring home the wild game Well filled oyster beds lay quite near the shore The harvest was fruitful grain wild fruits such vegetables as they know how to raise wore abundant nuts of various kinds were plentifulwhat then was to hinder tho malting ready a feast that should fitly supplement the public Thanksgiving rendered unto the Lord Thero is the point Tho feast Is but tho outward sign or token of that which underlies the wholo Thanksgiving Idea It is tho feeling In the heart tho sentiment of gratitude grati-tude for good received that after all constitutes tho real Thanksgiving With this feeling present the absence of the turkey even though ho Is everywhere every-where acknowledged to be tho king of tho feast need not be counted a misfortune Wo are too apt to forget Just how things were with tho settlers Wo take tho Idea of that great historical feast into our minds and we overlook the dark shadows that must havo been in that first Thanksgiving picture It would be a good thing If we would try to remember tho little graveyard by the waters edge and make an effort to recall what the record says that not one household In tho New Massachusetts Massa-chusetts colony but had recently been visited by death or severe and protracted pro-tracted Illness But still the preparations prepara-tions for the feast went on and at a convenient time they solemnized a day of thanksgiving unto the Lord Surely wo can learn a lesson from tho simple faith of these pious souls Wo are not called upon today to suffer suf-fer the privations which were tho lot of our forefathers but any year may bring changed conditions which may necessitate more or less selfdenial on our part If tho man who finds himself r him-self unable tof buy material for an expensive dinner f knows that his family fam-ily circle Is complete and unbroken J and everybody In health and fully ablo ask to enjoy the dinner when it Is prepared xSe pre-pared ho surely has good and sum 41 clent cause for thankfulness h M |