A fine mounted specimen of the esox lucius (pike, to you) is on
display in the window of Thompson Drug Store. The fish was caught by attorney
J.A. Jackson, Jr., near Mussel Shoals several days ago, and is one of the finest
pike taken from the Little Kanawha in many months. The fish was nearly three
feet long and weighed a little over eight pounds. Jackson does not pretend that
it is a record catch, but says it is the biggest one he ever caught and for that
reason he had it mounted.
During the same week, he
had another thing to be proud of. He completed 20 years of service with Hope
Natural Gas Co., whose legal department he heads in Calhoun and adjoining
counties, and was awarded a gold button by the company in recognition of his
services. The greater part of that time has been spent in Calhoun where his fair
treatment of the public has made him many friends who hope that his next 20
years will be spent with us.
Thanksgiving in 1958 finds Americans enjoying peace, abundance,
and freedom. It also finds the U.S. as leader of the free countries of the
world.
Since 1863, when Sarah J. Hale succeeded in her idea of a
religious observance late in November, Americans have been blessed with fortune,
and have accumulated more blessings with each passing year.
Now, 95 years later (she actually began her campaign in 1827),
the average American has more to be thankful for than the citizen of any other
country.
Americans should keep in mind the religious origin of the
Thanksgiving Day observance and give thanks to God for their many blessings.
Thanksgiving Day has grown to be an international celebration, and many Old
World customs are attached to it in various parts of the world and in the U.S.
In ancient history, many days of thanksgiving were celebrated
annually over long periods of time. In England, the victory of the Black Prince
over the French in 1356 was celebrated for eight days. Special thanksgiving
services were held in St. Paul’s Cathedral after the defeat of the Spanish
Armada in 1588.
Our Thanksgiving Day in the U.S., is relatively young, but it
has taken hold more firmly in other countries and has spread to various corners
of the world.