Show thanksgiving DAY gowhe observance of a day of thanksgiving by the pilgrims after their first harvest in 1621 was the beginning of what lias become a national custom is well known the story of how this custom gradually became widespread has also been frequently told but few of this generation know that the establishment of a uniform date for thanksgiving day was brought about by a woman mrs sarah josepha hale born in newport N H in 1788 left a widow with five children she took up writing as a means of support and was the editor of a magazine from 1828 until 1877 she founded the first seamans aid society in boston raised a large sum in aid of the bunker hill monument and was active in many movements for the advancement of women when in her early forties mrs hale began her long campaign for making thanksgiving day a national holiday and its celebration on the bame date th the country for about twenty years she wrote editorials in her magazine and bombarded presidents and governors with personal letters in support of the idea finally president lincoln adopted her suggestion in 1864 and designated the fourth thursday of november as a day of national thanksgiving since then his example has been followed by all succeeding presidents while it will seem to many that they have little in the way of material blessings for which to be thankful this year we may be mindful of the spirit of sympathy and practical helpfulness which has greatly developed during the trying times through which we are passing never before has such interest been shown in the plight of the unfortunate nor more earnest and sacrificing efforts made for their relief for these manifestations we may be thankful as well as for the indications that conditions have begun to improve and that faith in our national future is fully justified |