The Sunday Oregonian., November 22, 1914, SECTION FIVE, Page 4, Image 60

ELEMENTS MAKING HAPPY HOMES BASE SCHOOL COURSES
Alice V. Joyce Likens State to Parent in Upbuilding Character and Good Citizenship in Children Activities of Stephens and Woodlawn Pupils Exemplar in Linking Classes With Family Life.
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BY ALICE V. JOYCE.
If the Athenians desire good citizens let
them DUt whatever Is Rood
of their children. Pericles.
E
i VERY boy and girl "who lias con
tributed something from his or hen
garden for the Thanksgiving din
ner can sincerely say, "Hurrah! for
Thanksgiving day!" Happy Is the home
where the daughters can assist In the
preparation of the food, affording the
mother a real . holiday. The parents
have the satisfaction of knowing that
their children are doing things worth
while and appreciate their efforts to
assist in the home which will solve the
problem of the high cost of living.
Can anything give more pleasure to
a. community than the popcorn social of
the Stephens School? More than 500
parents and friends shared the pop
corn which consisted of the donation
the tenth ear) from every pupil as his
share of the expense.
' Everyone who attended heard with
extreme satisfaction the screams of de
light as the corn was being popped
in the school furnace, five poppers at
one time, and carried in relays to be
buttered. The treasurer credits more
than f25 to the Stephens Popcorn
Club. The principal of the school has
planned to teach civics and bookkeep
ing throughout his "corn corporation."
Wootllavvn Has srdener
The Woodlawn School has begun its
plant propagation for the new year.
Many cuttings of geraniums, petunias
and heliotrope have been placed in
tand for future use. The pupils of the
sixth and eighth grades have planted
several hundred bulbs of hyacinths,
daffodils, tulips, narcissi and crocuses.
They eagerly await their bloom, when
they may enjoy the beauty and frag
rance and also give pleasure to their
friends while "passing on" the flowers.
It has been proved that children are
happier ana do better school work
after a warm, nourishing lunch. Since
the cooking has become a part of the
child's education in the elementary
school, it is valuable experience for the
girls to prepare the vegetables from
their own garden and learn their eco
nomic value.
The mother who discovers her son's
THANKSGIVING BIG SOCIAL AFFAIR IN EARLY OREGON LIFE
Days Passed in Preparation Culminate in Great Feast, Where Turkey or Goose Is Principal Delicacy Dance of Many Hours Often Inspiration for Lads and Lassies.
BY CHESTER A. MOORE3.
ASK a typical pioneer how Thanks
giving was spent in the early
days and you will be entertained by
many intimate reminiscences.
If the happenings of an average
Turkey day back in the '50s or "60s
ehould be listed briefly and compared
hastily with the menu of events for a
20th century Thanksgiving, the uninl-
ated Oregonian might think the cele
brations much the same then and now.
Not bo, however, with the old-timer
who knows better.
Once upon a time. Thanksgiving day
was "the" event of the entire year's"
calendar. It eclipsed Christmas day.
the Fourth of July and all other gala
days In importance.
Weeks ahead of the pioneer Thanks
giving the young folks gathered to
gether to prepare the pumpkins, dry
the corn, the apples, the pears and
other fruits for the great feast that
was coming. These occasions, which
sometimes came as early as during
harvest, resembled the huskin' bees
that we all have heard so much about.
"When the viands were prepared prop
,erly for later use they were strung
on strings and suspended in front of
the fireplace for many days to dry. The
supply thus stored up was intended
primarily for Thanksgiving, but it was
usually enlarged to provide for the
complete Winter.
All Attend Services.
George . H. Htmea, secretary of the
Oregon Historical Society, is authority
for the statement that Thanksgiving
was the one day in the whole year that
every living soul in the community
went to the union church service. Mr.
Himes is so nearly a human encyclo
pedia on Oregon history that he might
almost be styled as a public institu
tion where everyone goes who wants to
know the full truth about happenings
In the early days.
It seems that pioneer preachers were
rot allowed by the rules of etiquette
to diverge from the Bible in their Sun
day sermons. To preach on politics, so
ciety and any similar theme would
have been scandal. But, by common
consent, the community preacher, who
then was the scholar of the neighbor
hood and its oracle, could say any
thing he pleased on Thanksgiving
morning. The lack of cbeckrein on
that one sermon made it the most re
freshing as well as the forceful of the
year, for the preacher could then "cut
loose" with every snappy comment that
had been held in storage during the
year. The Governors often recommend
ed a general attendence on this oc
casion. Anticipating the treat of the
year, the populance turned out en
masse. It is said, however, that the
thoughts of the mothers were on the
cooking rather than the sermon.
The services were held at 11 o'clock
and they were no sooner over than
all hands and stomachs prepared for
the big feast. Dinner usually came at
2 o'clock, and there were so many
things on the table that it required
tit least an hour to make way with
It all.
Turkey Often Scarce.
- Of course turkey was the piece de
resistance wherever and whenever it
was available. But It was a scarce
article In those days and, as a result,
wild geese were substituted on many
tables. Just after the harvest each
year, the fields of French Prairie and
those nearer Salem and over In Folk
yPose avve
interest in camp cooking- will do him
great service when she encourages
this Interest by helpful practice and
later will find a closer confidence dis
played. Great men have said, "Give us mothers
and let them be as educated as pos
sible." The more educated the better,
for the duty of the mother is as beau
tiful as it is great.
The empire of humanity, the highest
ideal of ethics has not only its first
County were populated thickly with
wild geese who had come to feed.
These birds were "blowing fat" . and
the unanimous testimony of all pioneers
la that they tasted as good as any
turkey ever did.
Cranberry sauce, mince and pumpkin
pies the best baked beans ever made
west of Boston; these, have been some
of the requisites of Thanksgiving din
ners as far as the memory of man
runs back.
The "kids" of the earlier genera
tion, many of whom now are prominent
in guiding the affairs of this state,
were not drawn away from the dinner
table before they had- eaten that last
piece of pie, as many of them now are
by the annual University of Oregon
Multnomah Club football game. But
they did have sports to . look forward
to.
Sports Follow Fent
The custom was to eat so heartily
that everyone would have to Join in
the general sports in order to facilitate
digestion. The little fellows along in
the early teens took special delight
In two-old, three-old or four-old cat.
The older beys and young men played
the similiar game of town ball, which
has . now evolved into our . National
sport. Running and jumping events,
wrestling . and championship turkey
and goose shooting matches, marked
by keen competition, invariably occu
pied an important portion of the after
noon. Those who were too old or too
timid for the strenuous activities spent
their enthusiasm at the pitching of
quoits or horseshoes. The reputation
of being the best quoit pitcher was al
ways an enviable title.
After attending to the household
duties, incident- to the dinner, the
women had contests of their, own. - One
was a race to see who could knit a
pair of socks the quickest. Weaving
"stunts" also were engaged In and
many set themselves to making big
fascinators or . scarfs, the kind that
used to be about a foot wide and long
THE ' SUNDAY OREGOXIAJT, POItTLi AND,
; r ' " ' 1 Tr
kKT-rvv ' - i - - - - - a.v
beginning and its permanent source in
the family relationship, but when the
latter has reached the highest form is
realized within it in a manner without
parallel in any other form of society.
Family life is not only essential for
the school: it is in itself a school for
enough to wrap around one's head and
tie carelessly in front. - - -
But distinctly the crowning event of
Thanksgiving was the dance. It Is said
that more courtships had. their begin
ning during Thanksgiving week and
that more marriages were performed
then than during any other week of the
year. The alluring inspirations . that
surrounded the annual Thanksgiving
ball is -held accountable for this, either
pleasantly or unpleasantly.-' as the case
may be, by many a pioneer. The lad
or fellow who could "date" his chosen
sweetheart for this big dance could
thereafter openly call her his best girl,
for another year at least.
The dance was supposed to begin at
candle lighting, which came -at. about
6 o'clock at that season of the year.
It seldom ended until daylight, appar
ently to give each swain plenty of time
to woo and win his lassie.
Those who lived In a good-sized vil
lage or in. a city didn't have far to go
to the town : hall. But it- was not un
common for many of the rural folks to
ride 10, 15 or even 30 or 40 miles to
arrive at a hall that was large enough
to stage one of the big Thanksgiving
affairs.
Horseback Trips Commosu
There were no buggies in the early
days of Oregon, until about 1870, much
less the suggestion of a motorcar, so
it was up to everyone to make the trip
on horseback. To protect their "Sun-
day-go-to-meetin' dresses" from the
spatter of mud from the road, the girls
used to wear flowing riding dresses.
such as we never see today. These de
vices covered every stitch of 'wearing
apparel, so that the dancing outnt al
ways looked presentable even after the
sloppiest of rides. The Bide saddles
used then were curious contrivances
a great number of important, perhaps
the most important, of civio virtues.
Without the help of the family the ele
mentary school as a rule makes no
child industrious, moral or religious.
How many of our friends will tell
you that the happiest hours of their
X-'- - . A
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whittled by hand. One of these saddles
of the vintage of 1847 is now on die-
play at the rooms of the Oregon His
torical Society In Portland.
On the dancing floor the women
wore neat, tight-fitting shoes or pumps.
There were a few silk dresses, but not
many. The men wore fine boots that
QUO . -
NOVTrBEIt 23,-1914.
childhood were thoae spent within the
home when the family group was engaged-
in the "evening story hour?"
The little quarrels of brothers and sis
ters are quite forgotten, the reprimands
of parents have long, since gone, but
the "stories" mother told or the
"books" that father read can never be
effaced from memory. -
The ideal home is the highest aim of
every person.
Many children have a vague idea or
were narrow and had fine soles. An
other feature of their "get-up" was the
high stiff collar, commonly called
"chokers."
The boss of the dance was one of
the old fiddlers who sat up on a box
and called the dances. The famous
Virginia reel, polkas, waltzes,, schot
tisches and square dances were ,tbe
general run. Here are some of the in
structions that the fiddler yelled out to
the merry-makers: "Honor your part
ners"; "hold hands and circle around :'
balance all and swing your partners";
all men to left"; "swing half around."
The kingpin of all big dances In
Portland for many years was a giant
colored barber with a bass voice that
could be heard all over the township.
He was in evidence on every important
occasion and no one could ever com
plain that they missed step because
they failed to hear his call.
Among the most popular tunes mat
were heralded at the Thanskgivlng
dances were the folowlng-. "Arkansas
Traveler," "Money Musk," "Pop Goes
the Weasel,"' "The Irish Washer
Woman," "Fisher's Hornpipe" and "The
Girl I Left Behind Me."
Festivities Continue Loss.
Going to and. returning from these
dances the country air rang with this
tune: "We'll dance all night "til broad
daylight and then go home with the
girls In the morning. And - they did
dance most of the time, except 'during
the big spread that was laid out. about
midnight. -
But the celebration was- not . neces
sarily over when the dancers got home.
The feast lasted a few days longer.
usually until Monday, when the Fall
term of school started. It is said that
school was set for that date In order
to : give the-youngsters time to work
off any spasm of Indigestion that might
have beset them because - or over-in-duleence.
. '
Such was the like of Thanksgiving
as the old folks used to observe it. .You
may judge for yourself whether or-not
It resembles the modern Thanksgiving.
In this connection it might be inter
esting to investigate how long Thanks
giving has been observed in America.
The custom originated - in . New Eng
land. ' History - recoras that Governor
Bradford, in 1621, was the- first to -Bet
aside a day for the giving' of thanks
for the plentiful harvest. During r the
revolutionary days a day of thanks
giving was recommended by -Congress.
The first President to appoint a day
was Abraham Lincoln, who set the pre
cedent in 1864. Before that time - it
was observed Intermittently in the
states when the Governors issued proc
lamations. The last Thursday in . No
vember was - the time usually set."
Ortcoa Has First In Deeesilwr,
' The first Thanksgiving ' proclama
tion issued in Oregon and probably the
first west of the Rocky Mountains was
written by John P. Gaines, the second
territorial Governor or Oregon, on No
vember 9, 1852. It designated the
second Thursday : in December as
Thanksgiving day. . -
The text of that proclamation was as
follows: .
"The year"" how' drawing-to- a . close.
has been of general prosperity to the
citizens of Oregon territory. The bless
ings of Divine Providence have been
abundantly vousafed to all classes of
our population. . Our ample harvest
has requited the labor of the husband
man. The mechanic, the merchant ana
the professional man have alike suc
cessfully pursued their several avoca
tions, while the pestilence that walk
impression ' of what a home really - Is.
They can only see the one . in. which
they have always lived; one that can
scarcely be called a home, where angry
words and often abuse, poverty. Idle
ness, etc., have wrought havoc and un
happiness. They should be taught that
by Industry and right living the better
home may be within the reach of all.
, Were a kind fairy to suggest that
one wish might be' granted, it should
be that every child be given an oppor
eth in darkness, and the - destruc
tion that. was teth at noonday have not
been allowed to devastate our rising
country.
"We have been generally exempted
from wars within our own limits, and
the Federal Republic has gone -forward
In her glorious career of moral
and intellectual progress, unobstruct
ed by any untoward events. In ad
dition to these general occasions of
gratitude, we have especial cause of
congratulation in' the advancement of L
science and virtue in our midst. It
is fitting that we should, as a people,
acknowledge our obligations and ren
der our thanks to the gracious Author
of all our mercies.
"In conformity to a usage in most
if the states of the Union. I, John P.
Gaines, do hereby - appoint the second
Thursday in December next to be set
apart as a day of public thanksgiving
to Almighty God and invite all citi
zens of the territory to suspend their
usual business and observe the day in
appropriate religious exercises.
Given under- my band and the seat
of the Territory at the Executive Of
fice in Salem, this ninth day of No
vember. A. D., 1852.
' "JOHN P. GAINES.
"By -the Governor. .
. "E. HAMILTON.
, "Secretary of Oregon Territory." ,
Second ' FroeUumatioBi - Short. "
r. The . second proclamation In Oregon
calling attention -to , . a . Thanksgiving
service-was issued by John: Whiteaker,
the first Governor of the state, on. De
cember ; 6,', 1859,-' the year Oregon was
admitted. to the Union.. This document,
the shortest Thanksgiving proclamation
ever Issued '. In Oregon and said - to be
the shortest ever written in-the United
States,, was :ordained by Governor
Whiteaker, - begrudgingly. at the re
quest of 76 women residents of Oregon
City.- ..' .
This - document . was : wordea as fol
lows: -
"Be It known , that. -.In conformity
with the ' wishes of many - citizens of
Oregon. I- do appoint and set apart
Thursday.. the twenty-ninth day of. De
cember,' 1859, as a day to be kept for
public thanksgiving, to be observed
throughout : tne state in sucn manner
as the good citizens thereof may deem
most appropriate.. - T ,
"Given under my hand at Eugene
REGULATE A CHILD'S
CROSS. BILIOUS
Any child--will gladly : take "Cas-carets-'
Candy , Cathartic,"' which - act
gently never - gripe or - produce the
slightest uneasiness though cleanses
the little one's Constipated Bowels,
sweetens the stomach and breaks up
NJO ISh PRICE 10 CENTSa
slip J'''
tunity to have flowers, birds, animal,
a place for play, a garden for work, an
opportunity to prepare for some life
work and something to love.
Since every home does not provide
these pleasures, the state, through its
schools, can be a valuable substitute,
bringing the child in close contact with
the things it loves at least a part of
the day for the greater number of days
during the years when Its life is being
moulded tor future usefulness.
City, this sixth day of December, 1859.
"JOHN WHITEAKER,"
Eugene City was Governor White
aker' a residence at that time and not
the capital of Oregon. It is worthy of
notice that Thanksgiving that year
came after Christmas.
YPRES NO LONGER MIGHTY
Few Recognize in Center of Hostili
ties Town Once Famous.
PHILADELPHIA. Pa.. Nov. 16.
Doubtless there are millions and mil
lions of Americans to whom the name
of the little Belgian town of Tpres,
around which the allies and Germans
are now battling furiously, comes as an
absolute stranger and without signifi
cance. Still, in the day of its greatness
and prosperity Ypres ranked as large
in the civilized world as Philadelphia.
Chicago, Berlin and other big cities do
today. Indeed. It was a splendid city
when Berlin was a mere hamlet of half
elvilized Slavs.
It was in the days of commercial
greatness of Venice that Tpres attained
the summit of its prosperity. It was an
Important distributing center for the
traffic which came up through tho
Adriatic by boat, was carried overland
and then scattered from Belgium to
England, France, Holland. Germany and
other countries. It also had great man
ufactures, and in the 14th century its
population exceeded 200,000. making It
one of the largest cities in Europe.
Ghent and Bruges, Its near neighbors,
were no less prosperous. With the
changing of the trade routes of Kurope
the wealth and population of Tpres dis
appeared, until it has now less than
20.000 people.
When one reads of the rise and de
cline of these communities which flour.
1 .-Tried long before America was dis
covered. It is interesting to speculate
whether the same fate will overtake
our own cities. Who can tell 7 To us
their foundation seems substantial, but
doubtless the worthy burghers of Tpres
thought the same of their beloved city
600 years ago. Now French and Ger
man soldiers are fighting around it,
quite ignorant of the fact that In Size
and wealth it once exceeded their own
Paris and Berlin.
BOWELS WHEN
OR FULL OF COLD
a bad cold quickly.
Full directions for children
grown-ups in each package.
Mothers can rest easy after Kivtaf
this gentle, harmless laxative to children.
CAS CARETS WORK WHILE YOU SLEER