The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-06-24
Joseph Kmetz Wins High Praise For His
 Essay On @'Mother''
Stratford High School Commencement Held in First Congregational Church Last Night-Interesting Pro gram Given.

But when does our heroine show her metal? When does she rally her forces and begin her battles? Iris in the duties of motherhood; the thou sand little cares and trfbulations, the Slaying over the sewing machine that baby may look pretty, the tOiling over the wash tub and ironing board that baby may be clean and sweet. the bending over the hot fire that baby may have proper norishment, and so it continues, the same round of mo notony all through school days until college time is reached; and then and squeezing of every penny, the seIf-denial of everything but the bare necessities of life so that her boys or her girls may share equally with the others.
 How many of us have stood and watched with admiration the return ing victor of some petty battle, cheer ing until we were hOarSe, eNhaustinS ourselves with our enthusiasm, when right beside us, possibly touch he? One whose battle has not been petty-whOse conflict has not been of short duration. but who has fought for us many a severe fight.
 Do, you remember when we were attacked by some childhood sickness, probably it Was scarlet fever or diphtheria and no one would go near us? Wbo held the cup of cold water to our fever-parched lips? Who bent over us day and night and fought away with supernatural strength the greatest of all enemies-death? The worlds greatest heroine, motheri Who is it at each Sunday dinner chose the neck Of the chicken so that we might have the juicy wing or breast or leg? Who is it stays home from the concerts, the social gather ings, the play. that we may go with the others and not be stinted for small change? Who crucifies her love for pretty clothes, her desire for good things, her longing for pleasure that we may have all these Who is it? The answer is mother!
 There is a story I read some time ago so tragic that it overshado ows anything that can be said or written of mother.
 There was a man who had become in love with a, beautiful woman. He went mad over her and he swore pas SlOnateIy to her that for her there was nothing in the world he would not do. Then this beautiful woman who was as evil hearted as she was proud, drunk with power and pride, proposed a terrible test. E'If you love me so much,'' she said, prove it by bringing to me your mothers hearti' So the man, mad with passion, mur- dered his mother, and cut out her heart, and ran with it to this woman And as he was running and carrying the heart in his two hands, it hap pened that he stumbled and fell, and as he fell the heart cried out and said.
 Have you hurt yourself, my boy ?'' This shows that there was still that heroic power in the mothers heart and shows that she was the worlds heroine.
 My friends. if you should some day attain the wealth of an Andrew Car negie or a John Rockefeller or Pier pont Morgan, don't give your money to universities, to libraries or make wonderful collections, until after you have raised a monument 8. wonderful monument to the worlds greatest heroine Give your medals to the mothers
 And remember if ever defeat begins to threaten if ever friends forsake and Jade away, If ever you are left discouraged, hope wasted and heart broken, just think of the worlds greatest heroine, motheri Because when all your friends turn away from you, there is still mother who remains if you are ill it is her tender hand that strokes your feveriSh brow. If financial disaster overtakes you and you lose your hard earnings of years and all others forsake you Remem- Der that the worlds greatest heroine will still be near with words of com fort and cheer, ready to offer any sacrifice that may help you
 Then do you know that every evil the world sorrows over she can heal; every blow that hurts a human heart she can soften; every wound or sigh or tear she can allay; she will sacri- flee everything for us, pray for us, creep closer to us through miSunder- and misfortune. With her we can be sure that the foo1ishfy made mistakes will be understandingly laughed away. She is a most common h heroine, no amount of riches can pur- chase her, no height of affluence can influence her and no depth of poverty can exclude her. Doesn't this show that mother is the worlds greatest heroine?