THANKSGIVING DAY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 9, 7 January 1913, Page 5

THANKSGIVING DAY.

FROM TWO POINTS OF VIEW. (San Francisco ‘Call.’) Thanksgiving Day (November 28th) was set apart as a day on which to stop grumbling, and to give misce 1 neous and promiscuous thanks. It is an American institution and is more necessary in this country than in any other because of the vast opportunities to become better off and thus acquire more worry. In Russia 100.000. people give thanks every day because they have been permitted to live by the Government, but in this country, unless a man has acquired a new railroad, or a new automobile, or a new wife during the year, he hqs been grievously slighted, and feels as if he had a perfect right to hold <nit on the annual gratitude feast. This is very wrong, however. There is so much for which to be thankful that we ought to be stretched all out of shape with gratefulness as well as turkey on Thanksgiving Day. Even if we have not had wealth, health, happiness nor political offlce~dh?ing the year, we can still be thankful. for 1.000. things, among which the following can be prominently mentioned: Because we have neither been run down by an automobile nor have had to pay for running down any one. Because we are not William Howard Taft. Because there isn’t a piano-playfer next door. Because we do not have to get aboard a floating palace and give our seat to a lady when it sinks. Because we didn’t bet on Roosevelt. Because last year’s wife and family are plenty good enough for us. Because we will not have to buy another turkey for a year. Even these few things ought to keep us grateful over Thanksgiving Day. WHAT WALT MASON, POET PHILOSOPHER, SAYS. Once more around the groaning board we gather in cur glee, while father, with his trusty sword, or shining snickersnee, carves up the largo and stately bird, while we the fragments spear, from which it well may be inferred that Thanksgiving Day is here. And as we fill our divers tanks with viands rich and rare we ought to breathe a hymn of thanks, since plenty’s everywhere. In countless homes the laughter rings, the quip and timely jest, while some are asking for the wing, and some prefer the breast. In countless homes deep fervent hymns the grateful people chant, while some are wishing for the limbs and some the gizzard want. In countless homes are shining eyes, and hearts with joy rebound, while mother reaches for the pies and sends the pieces round. Such scenes as these in countless homes enacted are to-day, and all the birds and pies are poems that beat Milton’s lay. Prosperity’s on every hand, the lean wolf howls in vain, and in this fat and happy land no mortal should Complain. The toiler gets abundant hire, the merchant makes things pay, and e’en the poet with his lyre can earn two bones aday. The poor man has his p : es and doasts, the rich his motor-car; so glory to the Lord of hosts, from whom all blessings are.