President Ulysses S. Grant’s fifth presidential Thanksgiving proclamation per Pilgrim Hall Museum:
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA – A PROCLAMATION
“dreadful civil strife”
The approaching close of another year brings with it the occasion for renewed thanksgiving and acknowledgment to the Almighty Ruler of the Universe for the unnumbered mercies which He has bestowed upon us.
Abundant harvests have been among the rewards of industry. With local exceptions, health has been among the many blessings enjoyed. Tranquillity at home and peace with other nations have prevailed.
Frugal industry is regaining its merited recognition and its merited rewards.
Gradually but, under the providence of God, surely, as we trust, the nation is recovering from the lingering results of a dreadful civil strife.
For these and all the other mercies vouchsafed it becomes us as a people to return heartfelt and grateful acknowledgments, and with our thanksgiving for blessings we may unite prayers for the cessation of local and temporary sufferings.
I therefore recommend that on Thursday, the 27th day of November next, the people meet in their respective places of worship to make their acknowledgments to Almighty God for His bounties and His protection, and to offer to Him prayers for their continuance.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this 14th day of October, A.D. 1873, and of the Independence of the United States of America the ninety-eighth.
U.S. GRANT
One of the things Chicagoans were thankful for was the good weather. From The Chicago Daily Tribune, November 28, 1873 page 2:
CHICAGO.
phenomenal day
Yesterday was a very unusual “Thanksgiving Day.” It was an unusual day in any sense of the word. The ground was robed in festive apparel, and the sky had donned its holiday attire of blue and white. It was, meteorologically considered, an unusual day. Careful housekeepers were sitting at their open windows, watching the sleighs passing fleetly by. The air was still and balmy, and the snow sufficiently well packed and solid to withstand the ardent invitations of the sun to yield. Nothing could have been more satisfactory to the next generation. Skating on the sidewalk was excellent; skating in the middle of the street unusually good. The ‘buses were running with open windows, while the boys were amusing themselves by attaching their sleds to the steps of the same. Such an unusual state of affairs was worthy of note, as being quite phenomenal. It was in delightful contrast with the last national holiday, especially so to the same coming generation, who will ever recollect with feelings of the utmost indignation the atmospheric humidity which caused their firecrackers to expire with an ignoble fizz, and their rockets and Roman candles to feebly glimmer in protest, and then obstinately reject any further invitations to shine with their expected brilliancy. In short, there was just enough snow to please the boys and girls, — just enough to render sleighing possible, and not enough to interfere with street-travel or mar the enjoyment of the day to those who took the opportunity of visiting their relatives residing in distant portions of the city. Nothing could have been more enjoyable than the weather. The impecunious houskeeper [sic], with just one scuttle of coal in his cellar, and no prospect of securing another, chose the occasion to give thanks for the brightness and geniality of the day; the sordid wretch upon whose pocket the appeal for aid had never had effect, gave thanks that there was one less excuse for giving; the poor wretch whose salary, barely large enough to support him when at full-tide, had been cut down to panic level, that his watchful friends had given him one good meal whose beneficent remembrance would cheer him till the stringency of the times should relax; the clerk and the workman gave thanks for one additional Sunday; and the minister, imbued with a feeling of self-satisfaction, gave thanks that, with all the advantages of Sunday, Thanksgiving Day only required of him one sermon. The business portion of the city presented an appearance of serenity which suggested the Day of Rest of the coming municipal administration, the only wholesale and retail places of business open to public patronage being the saloons. The churches in which services were announced were devoutly thronged, and the words of the preacher listened to with an attention quite unusual. Surely no Thanksgiving Day could have been more grateful to the city or more devoutly observed.
I don’t know how many saloons were open, but the Daily Tribune covered religious services at 14 churches and one synagogue.
President Grant’s proclamation stated: “Gradually but, under the providence of God, surely, as we trust, the nation is recovering from the lingering results of a dreadful civil strife.” Down South The Daily Phoenix in Columbia, South Carolina didn’t review Thanksgiving in that city. In its November 27, 1873 issue (image 2) the paper noted “To-day being Thanksgiving Day, the Post Office will be open from 5 to 6 P. M.” and “Thanksgiving Day being regarded as a national holiday, no paper will be issued from the office to-morrow.” When they got back to work on the 29th, the newspapermen only had this to say about the national holiday and the next day: “The weather, Thanksgiving Day, was very unpleasant, and yesterday morning there appeared to be but slight improvement; in the afternoon, however, it cleared off, and the sun shone out beautifully.” (image 2) According to an advertisement on page 3 of the November 27th issue, there was entertainment from New York City available on Thanksgiving Day.
The Daily Phoenix, November 27, 1873 page 3
The Daily Phoenix November 27, 1873 page 2
packed house in Columbia
Chapmans must have been really good
