The Brooklyn Daily Eagle from Brooklyn, New York • Page 15

THE BBOOBXTST DAILY AGLiE SUNDAY, JTOVEMBEE 21, 1897. 15 FHAT THANKSGIVING IS. by the ned as a fast day, and In the proclamation of President Davis calling for "Yes, when she gives me the seven reals I paid for It." "What!" shouted the other woman, "have my turkey stolen from me and pay to get It back! Saint Peter and St. Paul give me patience!" We were wishing for an opportunity to suggest that here was a case where the Judgment of Solomon might be advantageously put Into execution, and each dame sent homeward rejoicing, with half a turkey for the family dinner, when the Judge stopped further discussion by saying: "Little mothers, you are both too angry to lived and died in his anceBtral home. It was from him the street derived Its name.

His residence was on the corner of Washington street. I think the wives of Fanning C. Tucker and Root Carter, already mentioned as residing upon the heights, were his daughters. Before reaching Washington street wo passed St. Ann's church, fronting originally upon Sands street.

It received its name from Ann Sands and not a mythological personage, which is the current belief. Its location was changed upon the building of the new one on Washington street. When I was a youth the Rev. Benjamin U. Onderdonck was its pastor.

He subsequently became a bishop and was deposed, most unjustly, from his high office. The Rev. Charles P. Mcllvalne succeeded him and he too was elevated to the bishopric of Ohio. In turn Mr.

Cutler presided over its destinies to bo followed by the Rev. Noah Schenck, after Its seat was removed to Clinton street. Opposite the original church was a Methodist meeting house, brought into notoriety by the preachings of John Newland Mafllt, the father of Captain Mafllt of con see clear. Go home and come again to morrow i sing. Another drawback is that those who morning.

Look for the man who received the can sing will not sing on time. Now It is sug seven reals and let me know his name." gested that the first thing to be done is to CITY HALL, 1851. Away they went, the turkey and the two girls silent; the matrons scowling and growl Ing at each other. Our host heaved a sigh of relief, leaned back in his chair, lighted a fresh holoch, and ejaculated: "Santo Dias! What people!" A. D.

Le P. MRS. LIVINGSTON'S COLLECTION Weapons Rare and Curious in the Old Cortelyou Home. Notable collections made by women are usually of laces, fans, and such articles as seem more In harmony with feminine tastes. An Interesting break in the ordinary routine is that of Mrs.

Walter L. Livingston of Flat bush. Her travels have taken her through many countries, and while she has by no means confined herself to a unique collection of weapons, these are so remarkable for ex quisite decorations of carving and metal work, they take precedence, and one In ex amining them no longer wonders that they captivated a woman's fancy. The murder ous Intent for which they were fashioned is lost sight of when the skill and beauty of detail Is noted. A knife from Ceylon Is a wonderful combination of silver and ivory, the handle especially, the Intricacy of design vieing with the beauty of execution.

Beside this lies a pistol once owned by Abdel Kadlr. Its length, 27 Inches, makes It seem like a miniature rifle. Its size not only calls forth comment, but the inlaying of metals in the handle is as unique as beautiful. An odd bit of Soudanese is a two handed sword encased in a sheath of lizard skin. A tiger knife has three sharp blades that look like fanciful shears.

Tho blades arc designed to spread apart after the thrust, providing the user has the nerve and opportunity to do so, which one having any knowledge of tho tiger would be Inclined to doubt. Probably this sort of tiger knife beongs to a class of useful articles which aro purely ornamental. The sheath is a marvelous piece of work, from which the knife should never be taken. Silver mounted pistols of Louis period lie beside those of Italian make, both elaborate In their handle and barrel decoration. The wood carving of the latter is whimsically elegant for a deadly weapon.

The Calcutta knlve3 are of great variety, their carved wooden handles wastefully elaborated with sliver filagree ornamentation. The table on which this small but choice collection Is displayed has a' scarf cover from Bokhari. So skillfully are its Innumerable pieces Joined by delicate embroidery It has the appearance of a woven fabric. Tho women who make these scarfs never quite finish them, as it Is considered most unlucky to do 60. In the center of the table is a Roman sanctuary lamp.

This divides honors with the implements of barbarism. A woman's liking for dainty things is evidenced in the draperies of windows, tables and doors. These are of Irish lace, Algerian, Indian, Italian and Russian embroideries, pottery, carvings and lamps, calendar events, places and people. A Roman lamp of silver has wick pullers and an extinguisher as ornamental pendants, while its cover is of wrought gold, far too heavy and valuable to be used for such a purpose. Near It is a Tiffany hour glass, whose sands came from the River Jordan, a clever utilization of precious things.

Tall vases from India have the singular combination of Iron and sliver, while boxes of diminutive size are of ivory, the decoration burnt in graceful Intricacies on the polished surface. Beside this there is a filagree of tortoise shell. An Interesting item connected with this collection is that of Its being housed in an old landmark of Flatbush, the Cortelyou homestead, at Flatbush and New York avenues, and while the house represents an old Brooklyn family, its present occupants, Mrs. Livingston and her sister, Mrs. George W.

Schuyler, unite to the interest their connection with a distinguished old New York family. Since Mrs. Livingston became owner of tbe ancient homestead she has made few changes, only those which add comfort without destroying the picturesque old time appearance. There is one modern luxury, however, that would no doubt astonish the original builder. A long spacious room lighted by odd dormer windows is now a sumptuous bathroom, its sides wainscotted with mahogany ciostfwi.

iu uiaroie oacn tun rests on marble dais and all the equipments suggest I SOME POINTS OF VIEW. The organist of one of the largest of tha Brooklyn churches came to me with a troubled countenance the other day and suggested that I Improve the singing not In hia church, but in the others. All right. I have thought for some time that it might be better, but one has a bashfulness about going Into a strange church and telling the people so. The great drawback in congregational singing appears to be that the people cannot set up a congregational singing school, where the people can learn and practice, and as the singing is superficially taught in our publlo schools, such singing classes might benefit a larger company than the immediate membership of the church.

And especially would It be well to assemble the congregation for a quarter of an hour before service and put them through simple hymns under a precentor or a leader with a large and obvious baton. There are in every church about twenty people that you can count on to come In half a bar behind the others. The rest slow down to let these folks catch up. The more they slow down, the more the others drag, and at last the tune is going at a rate truly funereal. In case these slow folks will not be reformed either by the clergyman or the organist or the choir or by committees appointed from the membership, or by training, they can be requested to keep silence.

What a blessed world this might be if quite a number of people would keep silence, especially at the right time! The organist is apt to think that he is tho head man in church, and each choir singer is sure that she is, and sometimes the same complaint extends to the deacon who has sung longest with the congregation. In few churches is the clergyman permitted to hold any such inflated opinion of himself. But there is a partial cure for the sleepy singing in our houses of worship, and it rests with the organist to apply it. It consists in leading the music instead of following. The organist can get a grip on the wheeziest and pokiest of the amateurs in the pews if he will turn on plenty of wind and muscle and play in a staccato.

It is not a complete cure, for some people are so made that tbey will not allow any mere organist to dictate to them what time or what key they shall sing in, but it is a help, and It pulls the mass of the people along at such a pace that the belated ones have to omit a line now and then in order not to be como a subject of surprise and scoffing. They are firmly resolved to stay half a bar behind, no matter what the song may be; but they realize that when they are three bars In arrears they are liable to bo accused of affectation. Another sore subject with some folks I find to be the musical programmes of the Institute. The fault does not appear to rest with the Institute, but with the people who sing and play for It. They will not take advice.

Here comes the Herr Henschel, for example, who is an artist and knows his business, but he does not know what other people have been doing in Brooklyn since he was last here. He says he is going to give "The Two Grenadiers." I can hear that every month, if it is well sung, but the audiences of the Institute do not go to their concerts entirely to have their ears tickled: they go to enlarge their knowledge. Now "The Two Grenadiers" has been given here lately by Plancon, Fischer, Helnrlch, Demp sey, Reddall, Miles, and by Mr. Henschel himself, to say nothing of a shoal of smaller fry. There are other things that aro surely worth while.

We are told every now and then of the beauty of the songs of Robert Franz, tut who ever gives us a chance to hear them? The singers refuse them because they do not show them off enough. They have not yet got over the Idea that the song was made for the singer, and not the sfnger for the song. They believe that Shakspeare should be altered to let the actors make self exhibitions improper to the plays, and they like music that enables them to scamper up and down the scales, and trill, and make arpeggi and otherwise to "show off." The gallery always pounds Its feet and smites lti sweating palms at technic. The people whose opinion Is worth courting art. Technic Is needful to art, but It is not the end of it.

Melba, Sombrich and Beumer have no message for us. They merely advertise their singing teachers. Intoxicated with their own virtuosity, the temperance orators continue to make intem perate statements. The Rev. Cortland Myers of t'.

city, who Is a well known reformer, has been telling the folks up In Kingston what a wicked people wo are and it With figures. But with all respect, I Insist that he shall prove his figures. He may find admirers when ho assails Mr. Cleveland as a man who ducks with a bottle, whatever that may tlignify; when tie charges agdiin st Mr. Low 'that he "kissed the dirty foot of tho saloon element," and that "the 17,000,000 professors of religion in this country are cowards," because, apparently, they cannot take as bold an attitude as Mr.

Myers, but when he comes to the statement that although we protect fish and hogs, and in one taite prevent the sale of railroad station pie, we tako no measures to protect the people and that every year 2,500 infan'ts are killed in the United States by parents, wo have a curiosity to know where the eminent clergyman his information. Two thousand five hundred babies are a good many to kill in one year and in one country and from one cause, and we should like to exam ine the police reports before quite making up our minds that a mistake had not occurred somewhere. In So present that such a mistake has been made I should say that tho number cf infanta killed by their parents, drunk and sober, in this country every year, mig'at be about six. Come now, Mr. Myers, is this the for a Christian clergyman? Are people reformed by abusing them? It may bo necessary to show how dangerous some people aro, a3 when we abuse Tammany by telling truth about It, but we do net try to reform Tammany in any such way; we merely want to get it Into Jail.

many topers as there are saloons; that every one of the millions of our citizens who drink beer and wine was sure to fill a drunkard'a grave; that our homes were scenes of rioting and disorder, in consequence of a pint of claret at dinner. These people are absolutely Ignorant of what they are talking about. Wine will Intoxicate, and so will table salt kill. If a man can not take a glass of wine without wishing to wash it down with other two gallons, he Is a fool not to let It alone; but tno mass oi tnose who use themselves in those beverages than they have to drink two gallons of water at a sitting, or two gallons cf tea, or cofTee, or Roch ello salts. Wine and beer are used In Europe precisely as tea and coffee are used here, and no man who has traveled abroad can say that there Is as much drunkenness there as there It In America, with our prohibition and limitation laws.

It Is only in blue nosed Scotland, where whisky is used, and In Ireland, where tho whisky is still stronger, that drunkeanese Is common. Wine and beer are temperate liq ulds. Whisky, brandy, rum and gin are abom HOMES ON THE HEIGHTS, AS OSCAR COLES REMEMBERS THEM SEVENTY YEARS AGO. Tribute to Mr. Stranahan Houses on Sands Street Fame of the Old Methodist Meeting House and Its Pastor, John Newland Maffit.

SECOND ARTICLE. (Reminiscences of Brooklyn by Oscar Coles.) En route for the heights we will take a cursory glance at a few of the objects on our way. Hicks street, deriving its name from a wealthy family who resided on it, was comparatively thickly settled and could boast of several pretty cottages surrounded by ornamental gardens. As an illustration of the fact that there were but few men who lived upon assured Incomes I may mention that one of the Hicks family who was born, as the old vernacular would call It, "with a silver spoon in his mouth," was universally known as Gentleman Hicks. This distinguished title was not awarded to him for any superior quality he possessed, but because he could live without ostensible means of support.

Idle men were rare in those days. Upon the corner of Willow and Pineapple streets Captain Webb, a retired shipmaster, erected two fine brick dwellings, one of which he occupied. 1 believe they are still In existence. We now reach the heights, which tower majestically over the rushing river ebbing and rising at their foot. They were always beautiful, but more so in the olden days than now.

Then the houses were more like country seats than city dwellings, for they were detached from each other and surrounded by pretty gardens filled with rare exotics. So far apart were they that the pure air could blow freely around and about them. They were occupied by the Ludlows, Adrian Van Sinderen. Pursers Chew and Butler of the navy, Henry Waring, Hezekiah B. Pierre pont, Robert Carter and Fanning C.

Tucker. Waring was a commission merchant in naval stores. Plerrepont a distiller and Tucker and Carter ship chandlers In South street, New York. Passing along through cultivated farms we arrive at Cornell's mill pond, which forms the basis for the present Atlantic docks. These docks owe their prosperity mainly to J.

S. T. Stranahan, who, although not their original designer, raised them from comparative Insignificance to their present prosper BATTLE ous condition. This gentleman came to Brooklyn, I think, in 1834. Court and Clinton streets were originally called St.

George and St. James. When they were opened to Hamilton avenue the hills through which they ran required an excavation of at least forty feet. Mr. Stranahan.

with Messrs. Voorhis and Mclntyre, were the contractors and introduced the steam paddy for digging through the elevations. Mr. Stranahan was the moving spirit of the combination and predicted the rapid increase of Brooklyn. The earth taken from the summits was removed to the low grounds and some of the mill ponds, Cornell's, I believe, was one of them, were filled in with it.

The enterprising contractor became a citizen of Brooklyn while his two partners returned to their homes in distant parts of the state. Brooklyn owes a large debt to Mr. Stranahan for his public spirit, indefatigable energy and sound Judgment have always been utilized to promote its advancement. He is the father of ProBpect Park and it cost him great labor and anxiety to elevate it to its present high standard. Unlike other public improvements it was almost the work of one man who early recognized its adaptability to the purpose for which it was designed and only permitted the introduction of art to aid in the development of its native beauties.

He was also instrumental In perfecting the union between the four ferries as well as in building th3 magnificent bridge which connects the two cities. He Is still living and although past the four score limit is still actively engaged in business. In the neighborhood of the Atlantic dock were the distillery and grist mills of the Cornell family, some of whose members were afterward widely known for their connection with the Brooklyn White Lead works. Beyond them, toward the thickly populated portion of the city, was the distillery of Ralph Patchin and the dairy farm of Parmency Johnson, which was always in a high state of cultivation. I will retrace my steps.

Upon the corner of Fulton and Sands streets lived Dr. Wendell who, with Dr. Ball, were the prominent physicians of Brooklyn in my early days and held high position In their profession. There was another eminent member of the healing art. Dr.

Hunt, formerly a surgeon In the navy, who lived on the corner of Pineapple and Fulton streets. Drs. Rapalyea, Hyde and Hurd were numbered in the medical catalogue and enjoyed a lucrative practice. Doctors were dentists in those primitive times, but their skill was mainly confined to extracting teeth which they did Inflicting an indesclrb able torture upon their victims. Now dentistry has become a distinct profession practised by professors of a most laudable science, commanding universal respect.

I have wandered from my path and must back to Sands street. Much or the property upon It was originally owned by Joshua and Comfort Sands. When the colonies revolted the latter retained his allegiance to the British crown and his proportion of Brooklyn land was confiscated, but the former espousing the cause of the infant republic held undisturbed possession ol his share and THE LAND OF THE TURKEY FEASTS LIKE OUR THANKSGIV ING IN YUCATAN. Natives There Used Turkeys to Grace Festival Occasions Before Ever the Puritans Dreamed of Plymouth Rock. A Case for the Wisdom of Solomon.

It is not only on Uncle Sam's estate that turkeys have a hard time of fc. One of the ancient names of Yucatan, America's Egypt was "Turkey and while living in that peninsula, so famous for Its ruins, the writer found that there as under the Stars and Stripes, turkeys were sacrificed in great numbers on festive occasions, particularly among the native population. Wild turkeys of very brilliant plumage are abundant in 1 those tropical forests, and their fle3h Is finer flavored than that of 'the domesticated species; but to bag 'this bird is not easy, so the home bred article holds Its own In the affection of the public and always fetches its price. The first hke men who visited that country found that at certain seasons the natives had turkey feasts; and after a death In any family the surviving relations thought incumbent upon them to Invite a large company to partake of a "spread," in which turkey was the principal dish. This banquet was so strictly demanded by public opinion that the mourners were ready to make any sacrifice rather than fall to comply with the etiquette, and It frequently occurred that very poor persons would sell all they possessed or even barter their liberty, becoming slaves for a given time, 'In order to do honor to the memory of a dead parent In the manner decreed by custom.

Three hundred years have wrought many changes, good and bad, but the turkey's chance of living to the end of his natural life is as as ever. On our way to the grand old city of Uxma.1 we stayed a few days at Motul, a pretty town where an annual fair was being held. As we drove into the plaza, in a primitive wagon, our first Impression was that there had been a fight; for many half clad Indians lay prostrate on the ground; our team of three mules had to be carefully guided, lest their hoofs should hurt the sleeping men, for such these proved to be. The holiday makers had attended mass, breakfasted, been to the bull fight, sipped a large quantity of undiluted rum, and were now repesing beneath the midday sun, in a drunken siesta. We were guests at the house of Judgo Gutierrez.

That evening, Sunday, we were in the gentleman's office, where he sat smoking cigarettes and telling us about the place and people. These cigarettes, by the by, were particularly fragrant, and for the benefit of those who love the too seductive weed, I may permit myself a momentary digression to tell how they are made. Instead of being wrapped in paper the tobacco was rolled up in a piece of the tender inner sheathing of maize, this sheath having been first baked to a delicate brown and cut into squares of the desired size. Many pretty girls earn a living by making these cigarettes, called holoch; whose covering has to be tied on with white thread. The maidens do not disdain to take an occasional whiff at their own manufactures.

But to return to the Judge's office. About 8 o'clock two Indian matrons, wearing the customary spotless white garments and each accompanied by a pretty daughter, budding into womanhood, entered, gesticulating and vociferating. One matron carried a turkey by Its legs, regardless of Its feelings, but he turkey and two girls remained silent; In fact it would have been difficult for these to have made their voices heard, so excited were their elders. "Senor," both began at once. "Come, now," the Judge interrupted, "one at a time, or you must go away and settle this matter between yourselves." Together the women shouted In their native Maya tongue: HEIGHTS, 1841.

"I want my turkey!" "I want uy money!" "Very well," interposed the Judge, "if that is all, if you are both dissatisfied with the sale of this bird, make the exchange without any more fuss and go home." "But that turkey is mine!" exclaimed the empty handed matron, "and I have received no money for It; the bird was stolen from my yard!" "What is that to me, you unreasonable creature?" fiercely demanded the defendant. "I paid seven reals (88 cents) for this turkey, and it is very well mine now." The Judge imposed silence and asked: "Who sold you the bird, good little mother?" "I bought it at a market stand, from a man I do not know." wicked story teller!" ejaculated the complainant. "Senor Judge, I positively assure you that this is my stolen turkey so may the Blessed Virgin hear me! This woman Is a thief!" "Silence!" ordered the Judgo. "You say too much. Did you see this woman steal your turkey?" "No, but At this point tho other woman's wrath exploded.

"Ah, the wicked lying old woman!" she screamed. "What!" interrupted the Judge. "Do you mean to say that she did see you steal the turkey?" "No! No! No! but she called me a thief! Jesus Maria! Everyone knows I would rather starve than disgrace myself! Who Is she? Her son Here the Judge interposed. "Stop this! Are you willing to give up the turkeyt" the observance of the same, occurs the fol lowing noteworthy passage: "Recent disaster has spread gloom over the land, and sorrow sits at the hearthstones of our countrymen; but a people. conscious of rectitude and faithfully relying on their Father in Heaven, may be cast down, but cannot be dismayed." Thanksgiving day was observed in the State of Texas on February 4, 1863, "for the successes that had attended the confederate arms." A short history of the origin of Thanksgiving day In America has been given, but It would be Incomplete were the numerous fast days In contradistinction to days of rejoicing, which were appointed during the great rebellion of 1861 5, not mentioned.

These days were memorable for the great sadness and sorrow which brooded over this now happy land at the time, and the proclamations of the President and governors of the different states breathed the spirit of deep humiliation and a special recognition of the weakness of self complacency. The first proclamation appointing a fast day was issued by President James Buchanan on December 14, 1860, and reads as follows: "Numerous appeals have been made to mo by pious and patriotic associations and citizens In view of the present distracted and dangerous of our country, to recommend that a day be set apart for humiliation, fasting and prayer throughout the Union. In compliance with their request, and my own sense of duty, I designate Friday, the 4th day of January, 1861, for this purpose, and recommend that the people assemble on that day, according to their general forms of worship, to keep It as a solemn fast. "The Union of the States is at the present moment threatened with alarming and Irnme diaite danger, panic and distress of a fearful character prevail throughout the land our laboring population are without employment, and consequently deprived of the means of earning their bread Indeed, hope seems to have deserted the minds of men. All classes are in a state of confusion and dismay, and the wisest counsels of our best and purest men are wholly disregarded.

"In this, the hour of our calamity and peril, to whom shall we resort for relief but to the God of our Fathers. His omnipotent arm only can save us from, the awful effects or our own crimes and follies, our own ingrati tude and guilt toward our Heavenly Father. Let us, then, with deep contrition and penitent sorrow, unite in humbling ourselves before the Most High, in confessing our individual and national sins, and in acknowl edging the Justice of our punishment. Let us implore Him to remove from our hearts that false pride of opinion which would Impel us to persevere In wrong for the sake of con sistency, rather than yield a Just submission to the unforeseen exigencies by which we are now surrounded. Let us with deep rever ence beseech Him to restore the friendship and good will which prevailed In former days among the people of the several states, and above all, to save us from the horrors of civil war and blood guiltiness.

Let our fervent prayers ascend to His throne that He would not desert us in this hour of extreme peril, but remember us as He did our fathers in the darkest days of the revolution, and pre serve our constitution and our Union the work of their hands for ages yet to come. An omnipotent Providence may overrule ex isting evils for permanent good. He can make the wrath of man to praise Him and the remainder of wrath He can restrain. Let me invoke every individual. In whatever sphere of life he may be placed, to feel a personal responsibility to God and his country, for keeping this day holy, and for contributing all in his power to remove our actual and Impending difficulties.

"JAMES BUCHANAN. "Washington, December, 14, 1861." Thanksgiving Day may be regarded as the end of the American year The very nature of the festival shows that it was intended for the closing up of a year. Then the har vesting of corn was completed and all the work of an agricultural people, for sudh were the early Americans who first gave the day its present significance was finished. Agricul turally, the year had come to an end. It was an arithmetical day on which to count up the harvest and the profits.

It was a day of rejoicing and was observed with great celebra tion, particularly la New England. Then, for once only In the year, the whole family came together, mostly on horseback or with ox teams, and began to tell the news. In those early days the spirit of adoption was strong and the help was truly a part of the family. Nobody was left out or lacked a share in the common rejoicing and story telling. New babies were brought in Tor exhibition and comparison with earlier arrivals; news from all sections garnered for months previously was told with great gusto and received with an interest and appreciation unimpaired by its age.

How different were those thanksgivings ones we nave nowadays. mis year the American Deonla bnvo mm for which to give thanks. There are signs mat ousiness is coming out of the tornlrt state In which it has been sunk for so long. In spite of partisan sneers there are signs of increased prosperity. During the past year many mills, long silent, have given forth sounds of activity.

Agriculture has become paying thing. The American farmer ha this year reaped crops unequaled in their Dounty for many years. These crops have found a market in other countries less fortunate, less favored of God than our own. Locally the people of the vast community Boon to be called Greater New York have ex perienced many blessings during the past year, ror wnlch they should give heartfelt thanks. The late election, in spite of its results, should be a matter for rejoicing.

The better instincts, the higher Impulses and the purer motives of the inhabitants of the great city have given birth to a political sentiment which found utterance in the nrotest, amazingly large, which the Independent, honest voters entered against the corruption of the machines. These are signs of the times. Next Thursday should bring some deeper significance than that of a mere holiday to tne mind or the nation. It should be a day for sincere thanks for prosperity, for renewed activity in commercial and agricultural cir cles, and for evidences of moral growth among the great masses of the American people. THANKSGIVING DAY.

dear, pleasant, old fashioned day, come on. We're waiting for you hero. Up goes my hat with a Jolly fling. And my voice In a lusty cheer. They say you're a season for solemn review Of the blessings of our land; But I know you In the regular way, By the dinners, good and grand.

By the beautiful smells of the cooking stuffs That sputter and boil and spill And tingle my nose and water my mouth And my sensitive stomach thrill. By the "shlning up' house, process all over the And the home coming army of folks. And the good family manners and generous acts. And the Jolly good' humor and Jokes. high stepping gobbler, Just saying his prayers.

the emblem engraved in my heart Of this old fashioned day. And I hail its return. In my life It has played a good part. And I do feel a deep, grateful thrill, Indeed, For the appetite granted to sinners. And a "Thank you, my lad" to the old Yankee, shrewd.

Who invented this Day of Good Dinners. EMILY BAKER a go INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THIS WEEK'S HOLIDAY. i Thanksgiving of the Early Pilgrims, some Interesting New England Feat ures of the Observance Proclamations From North and South During the Civil War. Tie late Dr. Robert Chambers In his "Book of Days," gives the following Scotch view of Thanksgiving Day: "The great social and religious festival of New England, from which.

It has spread to most of the states of the American republic, is a legacy of the Puritans. They abolished Christmas as relic of popery or of prelacy, which they held la nearly equal detestation, and passed laws to punish its observance but, wanting some day to replace It, the colonial assemblies and. later, the governors of the States, appointed every year some day in autumn, generally to ward the end of November, as a day of sol emn prayer and thanksgiving for the blessings of the year, and especially the bounties of the harvest. "Thanksgiving Day is always celebrated on Thursday, and the same day Is chosen in most of the states. The governor's proclamation Is read la all the churches, and there are ap propriate sermons and religious exercises.

Families widely scattered meet at the bounti ful Thanksgiving dinner of roast turkey, plum pudding and mince and pumpkin pies. The evenings are devoted by the young people to rustic games and amusements. "The subjects of the Thanksgiving sermons are not Infrequently of a political character, and in the chief towns of the Union, those of the most popular preachers are generally published in the newspapers. The Thanksgiving festival, though widely celebrated, is not so universally respected as formerly, as the In flux of Roman Catholics and Episcopalians has brought Christmas again into vogue, which is also kept by the Unitarians with considerable solemnity. As a peculiar American festival, it will, however, long be cherished by the descendants of the Puritans." Dr.

Chambers is wrong in one statement. Tbanksgivlne day has not lost any of its popularity either as a religious or social fes tival, but on the contrary, has grown in favor, until its celebration extends from Maine to Texas, and from New York to California The time was when Thanksgiving was only observed in the New England States and not elsewhere to any great extent. It was quite a commonoccurrenceforBrooklynand New York business men hailing from the Eastern. States to celebrate two thanksgiving days, one in either Massachusetts or Rhode Island and the other In New York. And some of the execu tives of the Southern States entertained very peculiar views regarding even the issuing of a thanksgiving proclamation.

While in 1855 Governor Johnson of Virginia was willing to recommended a day of thanksgiving. Governor "Wise of the same state, in 1857, on being re quested to issue a proclamation naming a day for religious observance and thanksgiving, refused to do so on the ground that he was not authorized "to initerefere in religious matters." Thanksgiving, as a national celebration In the United States, dates from the year 1863, when President Lincoln issued his proclamation recommending the peoples of all the states to meet on a certain day in their respective places of worship and return thanksgiving for the manifold blessings of the year. Thanksgiving Day was originally "suggest ed by the Hebrew feast of the Tabernacles or feast of ineathering at the end of the year. A formal recommendation by the civil authori ties of a day to be set apart for that purpose end its occasional observance in Europe in the fifteenth century was not an unusual oc currence. The first anniversary of the deliv erance of the City of Ley den, Holland, from siege, was celebrated in that city on October 3, 1575, by thanksgiving and rejoicing.

In 1620 the Pilgrims who had been exiled from England to Holland, from the year 1615, sent a number of colonists in the Mayflower to America, where they could worship according to the New Testament or the new Gospel of Peace. They landed at Plymouth, Massachu setts, and at the close of the first harvest in 1621 "Governor Bradford sent four men out fowling, that they might after a more special manner rejoice together." Owing to a severe drought, a day devoted to fasting and prayer was observed in July, 1623." while the col onists were at prayer the cloudB opened and rain poured down upon the earth abundantly. So grateful were the Puritans that the governor of the colony named a day for special thanksgiving which was subsequently duly observed. In 1631 the Puritans waited patiently for supplies from Ireland andfinally wereabout to observe a fast day on account of the non arrival of the ship containing the same. Their fast was changed in'to thanksgiving when a 6ail was reported, and the safe arrival of tbeir relief was announced.

On account of the favorable action of the British privy council toward the colonists Governor "Win throp of the Colony of Massachusetts Bay, in June, 1632, recommended a day of thanksgiving, and Invited the governor of the Colony of Plymouth to unite in observing the festival. Thanksgiving days were also observed in Massachusetts Bay Colony, in the years 1633, 1634, 1637, 1638 and 1639; in Plymouth Colony, In 1651, 1668, 1680, 1689 and 1690, and in New Netherlands by the appointment of the Dutch governors in 1644, 1645, 1655 and 1664, and by proclamation of the English governors of New York in 1755 and 1760. According to Gabriel Furman "Governor Peter Stuyvesant made a communication to the Church (Reformed Dutch) of Brooklyn, on Long Island, on the last day of June, 1663, directing the fourth day of July following, to be observed as a day of thanksgiving, because among other things the English had been defeated in their attempt to take possession of the whole of Long Island by the timely arrival of a Dutch fleet of armed ships In the Bay of New Amsterdam, New York. During the revolutionary war, Thanksgiving Day was annually celebrated at the recommendation of Congress, but with the excep tion of the "Peace Thanksgiving in 1784, there was no national appointment till 1789, when President Washington by request of Congress recommended a day of thanksgiving for the adoption of the constitution." The suppression of the insurrection in 1795 was the occasion of a special thanksgiving and called forth a second proclamation from the patriot President. At the request of Congress, President Madison, in April, 1815, recommended a special day of thanksgiving owing to the successful termination of a war between England and the United States.

The civil recognition of the day was confined to the New England States, and, although the Protestant Episcopal Prayer Book of 1789 recommended the first Thursday in November as a day of thanksgiving, unless the various state authorities selected some other day for the purpose, and notwithstanding various recommendations were offered by other religious bodies, there was no official cognizance of the day by any of the American gorernors of New York until 1817. On April 10, 1862, President Lincoln issued a proclamation, recommending the people of the United States on their day of worship, "to give thanks to Almighty God for the recent viotories and to Implore spiritual consolation for those who had been brought into affliction by the calamities of civil war." The victories were the capture of Island No. 10, on the Mississippi River, April 7, and the battle of Pittsburg Landing, fought on April 6 And 7, 1862. Friday, May 16, 1862, was again celebrated A Is federate fame. Maffit was a sensational divine.

Gifted with a natural eloquence and romantic imagination, his sermons attracted immense crowds and to obtain a seat in his church was a matter of great difficulty, in fact, I have seen a larger number of people outside the building than were within its walls. Appealing to the sensitive attributes of his hearers in studied and graceful lan guage he made many converts, although he undermined the intellect of many of them, who subsequently became inmates of lunatic asylums. He afterward preached in the Rev. Dr. Bangs' church, in Christie street.

New York. He then became chaplain to the House of Representatives and finally emigrated to the West, where he was forcibly ejected from his pulpit and died in obscurity. Seldom is the ministerial desk graced with PASS, 1766. a man whose forensic eloquence could compare with his. His sermons were the embodiment of poetic prose, enunciated with an eloquential power but rarely equaled.

There effect upon his hearers was marvelous. His school was esoteric in the highest degree, while his pupils were of a lower grade of intellect and consequently more readily acted upon. He was widely known and highly Tamed, but his identity was buried with him In his grave and but few now living remember John Newland Maffit. (To be Continued.) WOMEN IN WASHINGTON. Six Thousand of Them Are Employed by the Government.

Of the 20,000 clerks employed by the government in Washington more than six thousand of them are women. Their salaries range from $600 to $1,800 a year. The women clerks are under the protection of 'the civil service rules, and they have all been appointed under the regulations of the civil service commission. The system gives a greatly Improved service. Women are said to pass better examinations as a rule than men; they are more apt, quicker to comprehend and brighter In the performance of their duties, and In many branches of the work are preferred to mean.

They are treated fairly and cordially in all things; there is a disposition on the part of men to recognize ability and accord hearty BROOKLYN support to (high class powers. The women clerks are generally content with their life. Many of them have seen better days and circumstances, and have children or parents dependent upon them for support. They are usually the most charming ladies to meet. Their salaries allow them to live comfortably, and they all dress well.

In many of the buildings the offices are spacious and are fitted up with all the modern conveniences; some are quite sumptuous In size and furnishings, while otters are smaller and plainer in their appointments, and in some of these, through long accumulations, the furniture is crowded. But wherever assigned to sit, the crisp muslin frocks and the bright ribbons of the women give an air of freshness and beauty to the surroundings, like that of roses In a garden of shrulis. Nowhere aro so many white dTessea worn by women as in this Capital City even to the sheerest of muslins and organdies In the streets and In offices. However one may regard the customs, one must admit that the dainty costumes light up the dingy official spaces with a wonderful brilliance. For the most part there are not many clerks placed In one room often no more than two or three persons and tall, green screens aTo very generously used to shut out the gazo of curious passers by in the corridors.

Tbe ages of the women range from 20 to 50 years, and even more than that. One ungallant chief of a division remarked that ho the average very high In. his rooms. Though they are as a rule very happy In their situations, some aTe restless and would hall with Joy a change of surround ings, mere is a charming spirit of camara deirle and loyalty to each other among the members of the llctlo coterie, who have known one another through long years, that is truly teautlful. Woman's Home Companion, the old Greens and Romans.

This is the most I should have doubts if a single drunkard were pronounced Innovation, for tho furniture is reformed by such orations. These prohi malnly of tho heavily carved style belonging i bklonists are so blinded by their beliefs tha: to a past century, though writing desks and they do not see the truth. One would sup small tables aro of French and Italian make. poso to hear them that our streets were filled beautifully Inlaid. I with drunkards; that there were at least as Among tho many valuable and interesting collections owned in Brooklyn few are of a more varied and unusual character than that In tho old Dutch farm house, which Is happily still a landmark and reminder of Flat bush.

MRS. MARY LEASE'S DEBUT. According to tho Kansas City Journal, this is how Mrs. Lease went into politics: In 1890 the Farmers' Alliance sprang inro existence, and Mrs. Lease wanted her husband to Join the movement and become a politician.

But i ne declared that he was not of the stuff which politicians are made, and suggested that she go into it herself and leave him in peace. "Mrs. Lease had never thought of entering politics, but she consented to try it. How, when and where to get the first Bpeech off was the puzle. Finaly a neighbor, Dixon, was taken into the deal, and he arranged it so that Mrs.

Lease could appear before tho next Farmers' Allianco county convention ana make a talk. She was there on the appointed day, and as soon as her name was mentioned sno rose and maae a. bee line to tho stage, lamu, cvu, me; aj, was a K.eniw.nu er. She was the sensation of the hour, and before that campaign was over Mrs. Lease was the best advertised politician in Kansas." SETTINGHERRIGHT.

Alethca Isn't ice boating a very expensive sport? Herbert Oh, no. You knowt it is done la the winter, when, lea la cheap. lnatlons. Why not preach against the Injurious liquors? Why not look at the moderate drinkers, who are neither wasteful, criminal drunken, unhealthy, unclean nor unhappy, and draw a tew conclusions? But there are people with whom It is of no use to argue, since they do not want to see the truth..