(continued
from pg. 3, col. 1) of Thanksgiving would have
“a deep moral influence” and bring out “the
best sympathies” in people. She argued most forcefully
for a national holiday in an 1858 editorial in Godey’s
entitled “Our National Thanksgiving:”
We
are most happy to agree with the large majority of the
governors of the different States—as shown in
their unanimity of action for several past years, and
which, we hope, will this year be adopted by all—that
the LAST THURSDAY IN NOVEMBER shall be the DAY OF NATIONAL
THANKSGIVING for the American people.
Consecrate the day to benevolence of action, by sending
good gifts to the poor, and doing those deeds of charity
that will, for one day, make every American home the
place of plenty and of rejoicing. These seasons of refreshing
are of inestimable advantage to the popular heart; and,
if rightly managed, will greatly aid and strengthen
public harmony of feeling. Let the people of all the
States and Territories sit down together to the “feast
of fat things,” and drink, in the sweet draught
of joy and gratitude to the Divine giver of all our
blessings, the pledge of renewed love to the Union,
and to each other; and of peace and good-will to all
men. Then the last Thursday in November will soon become
the day of AMERICAN THANKSGIVING throughout the world.
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Hale may have seen the spiritual and communitarian aspects
of Thanksgiving as a necessary counterweight to the growing
moral restlessness of the nation as it descended into civil
war. Her appeals finally reached amenable ears and, in the
midst of that most brutal of American conflicts, president
Lincoln saw fit to set aside Hale's chosen day to observe
a new national holiday. On October 3, 1863, Lincoln signed
the "Thanksgiving Proclamation." Below is a short excerpt:
In
the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and
severity…peace has been preserved with all nations,
order has been maintained, the laws have been respected
and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except
in the theatre of military conflict…and the
country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented
strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance
of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal
hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious
gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with
us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered
mercy.”
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Thanksgiving has
been celebrated annually in the United States since 1863,
but not always on the day Lincoln proclaimed. In 1939, president
Roosevelt, in an effort to ease the effects of the Depression,
declared that Thanksgiving would be celebrated on the penultimate
Thursday in November. Since the day after Thanksgiving has
traditionally been the beginning of the holiday ( continued
on page 5) |
 |
(continued
from pg. 3, col. 2) High levels of theobromine
can lead to seizures, arrhythmia, and even death.
So how much is too much? It depends on the age, size and health
of the dog, and the type of chocolate consumed. Generally
speaking, the sweeter the chocolate, the safer it is. White
chocolate has the lowest levels of theobromine (1 mg per ounce),
followed by milk chocolate (40-60 mg/oz), semisweet (150-260
mg/oz), and unsweetened (390-450 mg/oz). Toxic doses range
from 9 mg per pound of dog for mild signs to 18 mg per pound
of god for severe signs. Thus, a mere gram of theobromine
would cause severe problems for a 60 pound dog.
It takes about four days for chocolate to work its way out
of a dog’s system, but only 6 to 10 hours to work its
way out of a human’s.
Sources: chemistry.about.com,
petcaretips.net,
veterinary partner.com,
Wikipedia.
For you chemistry nerds—
the chemical structure
of theobromine
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