Show OFFER uffer UP THANKS people of switzerland devout in their G gratitude t for hardest Ble blessings sings EDNA P HALLORAN in switzerland Swits erland Is a thanksgiving movable east feast caming at the end of the hanest ban est season and usually falling failing oa on a sunday in the middle of october the country Is 1 at the height of its beauty in this month the chrysanthemums are in ful bloom in every garden the terraced vineyard vineyards are showing autumn colors and there Is a golden haze over the rugged mauu bains A feeling of peace and plenty prevails the harvest is garnered the wine Is made and the people of this thrifty little country are gr grateful tatul tor for the earths bounties it may not be entirely according to our ideas of artistic decorating tc have the interior of the churches on thanksgiving sunday resemble a mar ket place but nevertheless the right spirit Is at bottom in place ot of dowers strings of apples aro are fe festooned stoned from arch io tu arch clusters of grapes adorn available corners the altar and p lait pro pre banked bankel with every kind of vegetable carrots turnips and even cabbage being used sony song prayers are offered in gratitude and ng ing for the tle good harvest and a lengthy sermon la Is delivered appropriate to the occasion the sun outsie Is mm and the air inside Is 1 heavy laden with a strong odor of the marche at the end of the last hymn one hastens glad ly into the open the sabbath stillness of the after noon Is broken by the blare of a brass band A long procession winds its way about the narrow streets followed by a crowd of men women and children for the swiss people have the love of a binau small boy for a parade and they in bulge themselves in their fancy on every possible occasion on this day tho the procession goes from church to church stopping in front of each one while the band plays a few selections select loiis the crowd Is to not particularly atten tite but it makes up tor for that lack in good humor small groups stand ab abiu atit the church square sulking and laugh ing until the last number Is finished and then tako up their position in the rear of thu the 11 and follow it on to the next church thus the day wears on in gratitude for the bounties of nature A strange thanksgiving and a simple one corn com pared to tg our historic holiday and our elaborate manner ot of celeb celebrating abing it but beneath the surface runs the same undercurrent of sincere gratitude |