The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1914-07-30
God help us to be fair to 0ll.
:. e ID L TO II AL ..
OUR ANNUAL FLOWER DAY

OUR ANNUAL FLOWER DAY
- lOME weeks ago our attention was attracted
- by article appearing in the St. Paul
Dispatch in which woman connected
III with some organization or other, referred
slightingly to the custom of the ladies of
the Womens Christian Temperance
Union, in visiting this institution once a
Ill year for the purpose of distributing
Ill flowers among the inmates and bestowing
iii words of hope and cheering comfort up
on hearts that are yearning for human
sympathy. The in question
termed the practice as silly" and said it
was merely "a custom observed by few
women who might better save their work for the
poor and needy
We did not take the matter up at the time be-
cause we thought it would be more appropos to
handle it just on the eve of the day when these
bringers of sunshine to prison cells are about to
be with again; so we clipped out the article and
tucked it carefully away for in this issue.
We do not question this woman's right to her
opinion, or her privilege of expressing it publicy
but we feel that we should also be permitted to
exercise our prerogative and give our reasons for
differing from her. We do not even question her
sincerity, or the sincerity of those who are affiliated
with her in their contention that it is SILLY non
sense" to give flowers or kind words to ''crim-
inals." even though it be only once year. They
may, and undoubtedly do, think that the proper
Christian way to deal with offenders, is to punish
them to the fullest extent; strip them of every
vestage of manhood and womanhood, and shut off
from their vision, for all time, every ray of sun
shine that more humane ones seek to throw about
them.
The ladies composing the Womens Christian
Temperance Union of the state of Minnesota take
an altogether different view of the matter. For
number of years they have designated one Sunday
in August Flower Day. They look forward to
1t, and plan for it with enthusiasm born of an in
nate desire to nstil thoughts of love into the lives
of those who have fallen by the wayside in lifes
great battle. In carefully organized bands they
visit the penal institutions of the state, distrbut-
ing to each inmate bunch of fragrant flowers
Gods sweetest emblem of love. They leave a
me sage of cheer and hope; and upon departing
leave behind them atmosphere made brighter
purer and better through their temporary pres
Hearts long cold are made warm again by
words of encouragement elOquently expressed
The sincerity and good intent of our Flower Day
visitors not only appeals to us, but we know by
experience, has been productive of great deal of
good Men and women have been made to feel
that they are still cared for by man and God
They put from their hearts the thoughts of hate
and desires for revenge; and implant in their
stead determination to live better lives.
&c. on next Sunday we, the inmates of this in
stitution, will warmly welcome the ladies of the
Womens Christian Temperance Union. Every
man and woman will be in chapel line so that by
our numbers we may at least show our apprecia-
ton of their presence, and forever cast aside the
assertion of the Woodworking ones that the idea of
Flower Day is silly"