The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-10

cause. Scores of people, simuItane.
ously stirred, took their pens, pencils,
typewriters or stenographers in hand.
and indited epistles to Bogdlc, de-
manding that something be done.
Give US Fathers Day, they insist
Moved almost to tears. Mr.. Bowdle
makes reply to his numerous CORE
snondents through the columns of the
Iimes-Star. But, let 1t BE- noted,
Bowdle, although willing to dedicate
poetry to father, willing that even he
should have his day, willing to raise
his hat to him, willing to erect mon
ument to him, eulogizing him in hero
ic prose, yet presents no bill setting
aside a day to HID renown or memory.
But he defends and praises him as an
institution. like thiE:
The spirit Of microscopic analysis,
which characterizes these days, en-
dangers g number of our ancient in-
Istituf!GNs." he says. Ana, %h!ls I
have no respect for an institution
merely because of its ancientness.
there are some would preserve. One
old Institution, which has cat some
figure in civilization, is the old Man,
or Father
No magazines arc dedicated 10
him; no newspapers devote sections
to recounting his virtues. Yet, there
he is. in shiny clothes and rundown
heels, still paying the rent when he
lives Nth her and the alimony when
ne does lot, meeting insurance prem
lumS, so that he will be as valuable
dead as olive, working year in and
year out, with few pleasures beyond
an occasional beer, stogie or ball
game.
Il think the old Man altogether
worthy of some poetry, some heroic
verse. Let the poets take notice.
An ode to father would be strictly
9ermane, but the poet must be of the
Byronic order.
Had Mr.. Carnegie's income for
5 minutes l would summon some of
those new sculptors of the 'Ironistic'
or 'Naturalistic' school, and ccmmis-
sion them faithfully 10 produce a
heroic statue of the old Man. who
has made our locomotives on. stasl
cars, our magnificent ships, who has
dug our canals, tunneled our noun
taihs and rivers, laid down our
mighty water and sewer systems, re-
claimed OUT sNHanps and arid lands,
and who, in the hour of prosperity,
has always married an American wo.
man and has not passed his SAVINGS
to foreign ptincesses. This man de-
serves monument. shou:i tell
those sculptors to mako him plain
slightly round-shouldered, face fur
rowed with the heat of forge and fur
mace. yet cheerful withtl. with mus
cles knotted-just as he loots coming
from the shop at six. And this mon
ument should go up in some public
park and on its base should Just cut
Bill or JIM the plain fellow who
makes this world comfortable.
And he needs flower dedicated
to him. l would suggest tie modest
dandelion. 1t is plain, and gets up
early and retires late, and ungrudg-
ingly consents to ornament the COW
pastures and back yards of life. This
flower should be Worn by all mascu-
line men and feminine women about
the second Monday of Fathers
Day.
mo, not enough is said about that
plain man of simple habit and few
words; that tower of strength into
which we felt we could run and be
safe; who, with all his frmness, made
us conscious of his kindness; who
worked away through the days, and
came home with tired step and look
that seemed to tell of struggle, which
we understood not; who brought the
money home, gained hard from the
game of life, which we did not under
stand; who laid it down and told us
of its value, but we laughed; who
asked us to spend with judgment
against the rainy day, lest we all be
poor, and he, no longer able; but we
smiled the idiotic smile of youth,
while he wept within-that man, I
say, deserves some poetry, a few mon
uments. raise my hat to him."