The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1914-02-27

FATHER AND SON
Ocklawaha, Fla. Feb. 25.

Editor of the UCala Banner:
My nephew ana niece now visiting
me from Nebraska. tell me that
Omaha has had several father and
SON. banquets. one at a prominent
club and several at churches. They
have been held at many places over
the country. Sometimes the
sons have banquetted the fathers. In
most cases the fathers have banquet
ed the SONS. 1t makes no difference
which generation is host and which
guest. The object is to throw the
two generations together The in
stitution-for the banquet can al
most be called that-has been found
to be a good thing, and thought has
been best wed on extending the bene-
fit by making the association more
frequent, r,ore intimate, more per-
manent, and at home.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton, which originally conceived the
idea of the banQuets, is now attempt
ing to push the movement into the
homes. 1t is a little startling to
realize, that the lack of association
between fathers and sons is rated
such an evil that an organized and
general effort must be made to allevi-
ate it. 1t is one of the conditions that
the course of our civilization has de-
veloped and no reflection is needed
to understand that is for several i'm
portant reasons and unWholesome
condition.
The demand of modern life in our
cities absorb the time and the ell
ergy of the head of the family. When
home he is SO wearied that he seeks
the rest of quiet or diversion, and the
number and variety of urban amuse-
ments and entertainments appeal to
the boyish and youthful interest, and
easily entice the sons down town.
can speak from experience.
1t is not the same way on the other
, side of the house. The association
of mothers and daughters has not
been so much impaired by the
changes in family life caused by the
notifications and the novelties of
society, though many an anxious
! mother, too, | am sure, has been in
despair to make the parlor or the
library, or the living room on all
three together, attractive enough to
keep the girls from wanting to g to
the party, the movies" or the dance.
The Young Mems Christian Associ-
ations are enlisting the cooperation
of city official and municipal organi-
cations capable or having influence
and turning the hearts of the fathers
unto the children and the hearts of
the children unto the fathers.
Five hundred mayors have been
asked to issue proclamations simply
urging fathers and sons to resolve
that during this new year and hence
forth to be more intimate and COM
panionable. In, his proclamation
Mayor Newton d. Baker of Cleveland.
Ohio, states the result sought so well
that it deserves abundant repetition.
He says: IF we can begin the new
year with the resolve that our sous
shall be more our companions anc
our fathers more our comrades, it
will add both to the sweetness of orr
private life and to the value OF orr
citizenship"
This puts it all in a nutshell. The
sweetness Of private life and the val
lie of our citizenship. 1t is q move
ment to conserve the home aid the
Understanding influences that are
possible only there. And the home
condition tells directly on the larger
condition of society and the state.
DAVID + KIRKLAND.