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 stendgraphers in hand.
and indited epistles to Bo@dlc, de-
manding that something he done.
Give us Fathers Day, they insist
Moved almost to tears, Mr.. Bowdle
makes reply to his numerous CORE
spondents through the columns of the
Iimes-Star. But. let 1t be- noted,
Bowdle, although willing TO dedicate
poetry 10 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
&c prose, yet presents no bill setting
aside day to his renown or memory.
But he defends and praises him as an
Institution, like thig:
The spirit Of microscopic analysis
which characteriZes these days, en-
dangers number OF our ancient IL
stitut!ons." he says. "An,:. whsle |
have no respect for an institution
merely because of its. anctentnesg,
there are some | would preserve. One
Old institution, which BAG CIT some
figure in civilization, is the old Man, !
Or Father
No magazines arc dedicated 10
him; no newspapers devote sections
10 recounting his virtues. Yet. there
he is, in shiny clothes and rundown
heels. still paying the rent when he
lives "ith her and the alimony when
he does lot, meeting insurance prem
lums, SO that he will be as valuable
dead as ellve. 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 aeraIe
verse. Let the poets take notice.
An ode to father would be strictly
germane, but the poet must be Of the
Byronic order.
'Fiad | Mr.. Carnegie's income for
l . minutes | would summon some OF
those new sculptors of the 'Ironiatic'
or 'Nsturalistic' school, and commits
sion them faithfully 70 produce a
heroic statue Of the Old Man, who
has made our locomotives on steel
cars, our magnificent ships, who has
dug our canals. tunneled our noun
taius and rivers, laid down our
mighty water and sewer systems, re-
claimed our swamps and arid lands.
and who, in the hour Of prosperity,
has always married an Ame rican wo.
man and has not passed his savings
to foreign princesSeS. This nan de-
serves Il monument. Should tell
those sculptors to make bin plain,
slightly rohnd-shouldered, face fur
rowed with the heat of forge and fur
mace, yet cheerful with&l. with mus
cles knotted-just as he Ioots coming
from The shop at six. And this mon
unent should go up IL some public
park and on It's base should Just cut
BIZ or Jim, the plain fellow who
makes this world comfortable.
And he needs a 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 April-Father'
Day.
NO, 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 firmness, 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 went within-that man,
say, deserves some poetry, a few mon
uments. raise my hat to him."