The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1920-07-07
II II y II 4 X \ + Il 4
FATHERHOOD, 4
A PROFESSION. =

We hear a great deal of the sanctity
of motherhood and of the sacred re-
sponsibilities of the mother; but who
| talks about the nobility of fatherhood
and the wonderful privilege of being
| father? One would almost suppose
| that children had but one parent, or
that beyond the obligation OF support
a father owed nothing to his children.
AS matter of fact, just what does
he owe them!
In the first place he owes them the
best possible inheritance of health and
natural strength. If the fathers OF the
present generation had been taught,
as schoolboys, that they owed their
children a heritage of physical health,
the present generation of children
! would be a far healthier, happier lot
of youngsters.
And having given his children a
healthy heritage, the father should
share with the mother the oversight
of their children's well-being, | know
as everyone else does-hosts of
fathers who not only fail to take any
responsibility about the children's
habits, but who actually, though I'M
consciously, work against the mother
by giving surreptitious candy, by
keeping the children up late to play
with them and thus make her work
with them more difficult. The result
is that Father is very popular. while
Mother is considered "awfully fussy."
On the mental side, a child, as he
grows older, looks more and more
to his father. Wise is the father who
takes an active interest in current
events or allies himself on the side of
local civics improvement for through
his example his children naturally &C
quire love of good citizenship.
And on the moral and religious side,
how often is Father a mere figure
head in his own family? Usually it is
Mother who represents the moral law,
or If Father does take a hand, it is
merely as the executor of her decreed
punishment wait till your Father
comes homer is either an empty
threat. or, in rarer cases a phrase
filled with terror for the small rebel
Too often church attendance is left
entirely to the women. The children
see Mother start off alone for church,
while Father remains at home to read
his paper The notion that church is
woman's affair is formed so natur-
ally that later in life, it seems an in
stinct
How much children miss, how
much fathers miss, by this one-sided
parenthood! Happy the boy who looks
up to his father as an ideal of bodily
vigor wisdom and goodness. And
this does not mean that Father must
stand on a pedestal. Far from it!
Anyone who has read the charming
letters of Theodore Roosevelt to his
children sees, as in a mirror, the pic
ture of father utterly devoted to
his children, and utterly adored in
turn Whether he is leaping from
haymow to haymow in a wild game
of tag, or reading aloud with his child
rem gathered around him, he is al
ways their chosen companion, their
best friend, their greatest hero. And
there are 'many devoted fathers!
Francis +. Leupp gives us a charming
picture of one in his little book, "A
Day With Father"
Reversing a well-known quotation,
we may say. Happy is the father
who knows his own child" Happy
because there is no more delightful
study than that of the development
of child, as he progresses from in
fancy, through childhood to youth.
Happy because of the inspiration that
comes from the companionship of
children. Happiest of all because, in
the trying times of their youth and
early maturity, he will be able to
understand his children. He can guide
and co,,pSa1 then, instead at standing
helplessly by-an outsider. If only
American fathers would know their
children. they would find them more
interesting than any business in the
world. and as for the children, who
can measure their gain?-Charles F
Powlison, General Secretary National
Child Welfare Association.