The Washington times., 1916-11-21
Family
Festivals
Are Best
Simple Celebration of Such
Home Fete Days Gust
Among Ourselves" Will
Create Memories That
Last Through Life.
BY LAURA CLAWSON.
II HrNK perhaps | remember my
mother best on her birthdays"

mother best on her birthdays"
said a famous man not long ago,
am sure the memory of those
simple festivities will stay with me
while life lasts"
AS n family we were very united,
and have often wondered II It were
not because we made so much of the
FAMILY birthdays and holidays, which
always. even after we were grown men
ahd women, we kept with some form of
simple celebration.
The effect this. custom had on me
VIII remember; II held for me the idea
that no matter how much. strangers
thought OF one, the family, after all,
was FIRST. The members really cared
about each other enough to remember
TO provide simple presents on these oc-
casionss and altogether 1t made for a
spirit OF unity In our home life which.
az 1 observe the family life OF these
hurried days. | think was very good
for us.
1T seemed so altogether wonderful
that even mother and father should
nave birthdays-somehow It brought
forty nearer to fourteen!
Simple Present Brought Joy.
, Il recall my mothers joy at some lit
tie bit of Jewelry which we children
had saved our allowance to purchase
for heras one of the sweetest memories
OF my life.
think no costly present we gave
ner In after life really pleased her as
much as that Inexpensive pin. I have
heard her say so many times,
can appreciate now what all these
parties, simple as they We're must have
meant to mother--how much extra
work they entailed on a housekeeper
now to realize how we took the seem
ingly inexhaustible supply of cookies
ana apples as "A matter OF course, for
IN 80 large a family as ours there was
q birthday or anniversary very often"
This interesting glimpse OF home life
may give others an idea.
Perhaps some mother who reads this
who may be thinking of what the last
birthday party meant-an elaborate
nents. Naturally she will say rather
nrmiy that one or two parties a winter
y all she feels able ito undertake for
the children. the trouble and expense II
means In these days precludes any
thought OF multiplying the events!
Just Among Ourselves.
But am sure my famous man had
In mind far different kind Of celebra-
ton. '@S1ef
Why not go back to the old way
why not have a birthday party for an
older member of the family, father, for
Take the children into the secret and
plan with them instead OF for them.
Explain that instead OF n party with
strangers, the birthdays are hereafter
going to be family affairs. and that as
each ones comes round In turn there is
70 be simple celebration lust among
ourselves2"
The children will enjoy themselves aa
much. perhaps more than they have
been doing at the elaborate parties, and
their memories will be enriched beyond
expression by these ample family
feasts.
For after all. the memories OF later
years OF the homes in which we spend
our childhood should be more to us than
recalling that we had food and shelter
there.
In our hurry perhaps we are in danger
OF forgetting this for our children. The
return to these simple birthdays and
anniversary occasions may recall 1t to
some of us who have been thoughtless
and who are using birthdays merely to
repay the social debts which our chill
dren are contracting.
Copyright. 1916. by Laura Ciawson)