Show our oar national holiday there are holidays and holidays ys christmas and new years are cosmopolitan aie the property r ty of no particular people but yet are joyously observed by many but thanksgiving is purely an american Amei Aniell ican cin holiday oliday li original in conception and growing from a small beginning until it has reached vie atie dignity of a national event its first celebration was by the plymouth colony in 1621 those sturdy pioneers whose piety was as pronounced as their pluck who honored themselves by lio bonor norin inq their the custom soon became more general spreading over all the new england states after the revolution it gradually extended to the middle states and later to the west growing more slowly in the he south in 1863 the lincoln forever established it in the list of holidays by proclaiming it aday of thanksgiving his action being promptly followed by the individual proclamation of the governors of the stiles states who named the day since then by common consent the first announcement no of fhe day is found in the presidents proclamation and the day so named is also named by the states A commendable feature of this holiday is a practical benevolence which has become very notable poor people to whom a good dinner dinder Is a rarity are hunted out and la in an unostentatious way are helped to properly observe the day so tar far as its festive features I 1 are concerned the sick and suffering buffering are remembered in various ways the homeless ale aie for the day clay made members of some hospitable household where they can join in its pleasures altogether this is perhaps its best feature there is no pleasure plea suie so lasting none which affords such real joy as that which comes to us train from the knowledge that we have done a real kindness to some of the suffering buffering children of the earth in ili some way alleviated their sorrows or eased their pains last but not least te elie devotional spirit which Is the impelling motive of the day Is encouraged and developed we learn to be more contented with our lot thankful for what we have and hopeful for the cie future be kind and generous with a cheery and appreciative spirit let us enjoy our day to the full from turkey and cranberry sauce to the good natured discussion of the lively topics of the day and with all our tab bounty and good cheer in the domestic circle let us not forget that the occasion is peculiarly one ant for brightening the lives of others less fortunate than ourselves a day for the practical bestowal of charity |