The log cabin Democrat., 1916-04-13
By ANNA BLAND.

throughout the United States, and, in honor of American mothers, both liv- ing and dead, public exercises will be held in churches and Sunday schools.
 Since the days when word symbols were first invented there have been written beautiful tributes to the sa- cred love of the mother, and this ten derest If all earthly ties has been eX- tolled in exquisite verse and prose by world famous poets as well as the humblest bards of every land and ev- cry cline. Many os the sarcophaguses of ancient Egypt, which scientists have recently unearthed, contained tablets, or other records, which were inscribed with praises for the mother ly virtues of the women of the royal houses of those olden days; and these tombs were built long before the time of Christ. But not until recently, however. was the loyalty and devo- tion of the mother given public recog- nition by a special observance held n her honor.
 Mothers flower-do you know what 1t is? The spicy, snowwhite carna- tion. It was chosen by the origina- tor of mothers day as the emblem of mother love.
 Originated by Miss Jarvis.
 But my own mothers flower" some may say. was the pink" or the lilac" or "the rose." That may be true, for mothers have way of loving best these rII Pse hut Jarvis, who originated the observance of mothers day, no doubt had in mind these differences of taste when she chose as an emblem for the occasion the white carnation for, surely. this beautiful, fragrant flower combines ev- cry lovely quality of all the flowers ever loved by mothers the wide world over! It symboizes purity, sweet ness and endurance-and are not these the qualities of mothers love?
 Miss Anna Jarvis, who first thought of inaugurating a special observance to honor the mothers of the land, is a Philadelphia woman, one who has long been identified with philanthropic movements of her home state. It was while honoring the memory of her own beloved parent from whom she had long been parted by death, that she conceived the idea of setting aside one day every year for the purpose of paying tribute to the mothers of Amer ica.
 There is an old custom observed in England, on the 17th of March, whose purpose is to honor the mothers of the land. which is called "mothering' Sunday. On this day some special act of love or kindness is performed. In olden times the day was made a glad homecoming occasion, and gifts were carried to the mothers. and heart-to- heart talks induiged in around the blazing log fires by parents, sons and daughters. "Mothering" Sunday may, or may not have been Miss Jarvis inspiration when inaugurating our own mothers day; the customs, however, embody the same beautiful senti- ments AS soon as Miss Jarvis made known her plan she received letters from interested people from all parts of the country, i2quiring for particu lars. It was only a short time before mothers day was being observed, in some form, in nearly every state in the union.
 Association Takes Up Work.
 In the beginning all the expense of the movement was borne by the orig inator, but soon the work became too heavy to be carried on or financed by an individual The Mothers Day International association was formed with Miss Jarvis as president, the ob ject being to promote the observance and forward the work of mothers day in every land.
 A resolution passed the United States house of representatives and senate in May, 1913, commenting the observance by the president. his cabi net and other heads of government de- partments. The honorary vice presi- dents of the association are the gov ernors of the states.
 The legislatures of a number of states have passed bills for the ob- servance of the day.
 IL HtNiio o Piey tiidt iiiothCl Noy does not occur during old home week. or homecoming week, as it is called in some localities where an annual pill. grimage is made to the old home by the wanderers from the home fold One naturally thinks of the silver haired mother as being the center of these glad gathering of the clans. It is mother" who first greets the lost sheep and welcomes him home with tears of joy; and it is her brave smile and words of cheer that speed him on his way when good-bys must be said. One day set aside in special reverence of mother, in the season of home coming. would seem particularly ap- propriate, whether she is still in the old home, or is quietly sleeping where the goldenrod mods in the little bury ing ground on the hill.
 History teens with inspiring incl dents Illustrating the wonderful sacri. fee of mother love The records of