Thanksgiving

Onr own severely practical nge ia not specially given to holidays or holy clays - to feasts or fasta, when these interfere materially with wbat we cali business. We havo reyersed the order in our división of time, as established in the earlier ages of the world, by placing business first and pleasure afterward. The old Komans divided their days into fexti and imifeati, thus placing the work of professional day after the feast in order of importance. Whether our rule or tkeirs is the best we do not care to discuss, only noting the fact and passing it with the remark that probably our plan brings in the best returns, and that if our feast days come lesa of ten, we may be better preparod to enjoy tliem. The American Thanksgiving Day, now observed each year throughout the country, dates back to the earliest days of Plymouth Oolouy. The surnmer of 1C23 was one of pecular trial to the infant colony, owing to a loiig-continued drought, which threatcnetl a total failuro of the crops and consequent starvation. A day of humiliation and prayer was appointed, and observed carefully by the people that the calamity niight be averted, and in answer to their pious prayers, abundant showe.ts were sent to save the erops and the people. In grateful acknowledgment to God for these signal favors the Jlrst American Thanksgiving was appoiuted and celebrated. The second Thanksgiving was celebrated in 1630 ; the third, probably, in 1651 ; the next in 1654, then 1076, 1680, 1686, 1688, 1689, 1690. The Plymouth record, for 1C88, reads thus : " The court taking notice of the goodness of God to vs in the continuance of our civil and religions liberties, the general health we have enjoyed, and that it hath pleased God in some comfortable measure to blesse vs in the fruites of the earth, doe conceive that these and ether favors doe cali vpon vs for retumes of thankfulness to the Lord, whoe might have justly dealt otherwise with vs - and therefore, that we may be joynt in this, our sacriflee, doe propose unto the severa! congregations of this gov'ment that the 25th day of November next, which will be the fourth day of the week, to be kept as a solemn day of thanksgiving with respect to His goodness in the p'ticulars abovementioned. " After 1700 Thanksgiving Day was observed annually in the New England colonies. Cnngrwo hl 1 TTT nppoit'l i' NallOTlHl Thauksgi'1''- TW also in 1 77Í). on account oí tlie surreñder of Yorktown. Washington issued the first 'Presidf ntal proclamation for Thanksgiving for Tlmrsday, November 26, 1789.