The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1915-03-30
Children sLDay

Mothers day is a national institu.
ton, Fathers day has gained mu.h
ground since it was suggested a year
or two ago, and now the idea or set
ting aside a day in the year for the
children is meeting with favor. II
Is peculiarly fitting. say the advo-
Gates of Chidren's day, to give the
youngsters of America a day of their
own since America is, above all 9th
er nations, the land of the children.
Here childhood finds its greatest Cd
portunity for growth and expansion.
Nowhere else on earth do parents
sacrifice themselves So much for
their children. In fact, It has been
suggested time and again by fore ign
observers that the children rule Am
erica; that the older folks place
themselves too far in the background
Of our national life and the children
too far in the foreground.
So far there has been litt'e CON.
certed action to set aside a day when
childhood shall be glorihed and Civ
en- the opportunity to display It's spir-
1t OF youth, which is so beautiful.
There are, of course, places here and
there throughout the Union where
children assemble on a given day and
have a good time. In other pla ,es
the assemblage of the youngsters has
specified purpose, such as in the
great gathering in Brooklyn for the
annual Sunday school parade. Most
OF the larger cities have field DAYS
for the school children, when the
youngsters OF boCh sexes gather on
the city's green places and show
their skill in folk dances, races and
other sports.
In many cities and towns the chill.
dren have recognized place in the
celebrations Of national holidays,
such as Memorial day and Indepen.
dence day. And, of course, Christmas
with its recently instituted munich.
pal observances and municipal trees
is prominently day of the children.
Its religious side appeals to all de.
vout Christians, but in it's secular
observances all children have their
particular and important part.
May day is children's day, of
course, since we adults have lost our
ancient customs Of gathering on the
village green and dancing around the
maypole. Large cities have their
May walks of children, with queens
OF the May and kings and Processes
and princes and courtiers and little
ones dressed in all sorts or masquer,
edes. In June come the June walks
combinations of the May parties,
which take place throughout all the
"merrie month of May" Perhaps
May day Is the best day OF all the
year for a national children's day,
with formal and ceremonious OBJ
servances, since It is an informal
children's day anyway.
Leading educators, librarians and
others interested in the development
and training Of children have well
coined the idea of setting aside one
day in the year for the glorification
OF childhood. 1--WE owe the little ones
some recognition of the fact that a
large share of the Joy of life is diff
fused by them" said one OF these.
In fact, ] am not sure that parents
do not owe more to their children
than the children do to their par
ents. Let us get them all together
on one day and rejoice with them in
the happiness and freedom from care
which only childhood knows. Per.
haps 1t will bring back to us children
OF larger growth some of the joy
of living which we lost when we left
behind our short skirts and knick-
erbockers ("