The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-05-18
CARELESS SMOKERS
Responsible for Over Twenty Per
Cent of National Forest Fires Ac-

Responsible for Over Twenty Per
Cent of National Forest Fires Ac-
cording to Stat:ctics Given out.
Twenty per cent of all the forest
fires started by man in the national
forests of the west during 1921, were
caused by careless tobacco smokers,
according to figures compiled by the
forest service, United States depart
ment of agriculture. In California,
Arizona and New Mexico one out of
every four forest fires due to human
agencies was started by burning
cigarettes, cigars, matches or pipe
heels thrown aside by careless smok-
ers while in the woods. In other parts
of the west the percentage of smok-
ers' fires ranged from IL to Is per
cent. The total number of forest
fires on the western national forests
during the past season was 5,131 of
which number 1,444 were caused by
lightning, 1872 by smokers and 1855
by other human agencies.
Careless smokers, foresters point
out, are responsible for one of the
MOTHERS DAY
Mothers Day passed with the usual
transformations observances. 1t would
be inadvisable, just as it is perhaps
impossible, to celebrate the occasion
with any great parade or other i'm
pressive ceremony, for the strength
of the support for Mothers Day
comes not from those who have in
mind some Implication of the Amer
lean Mother, but rather from those
of whom each bears within his heart
the knowledge of his own mothers
unfailing love. Such as these truly
observe the day, and they have no de-
sire to gather in crowds to express
that sentiment which is deep within
them.
1t is a difficult thing, this matter
of trying to express publicly ones
private feelings. Real patriotism
does not consist in cheering a Fourth
of July parade or standing at atten-
ton when the national anthem is
played, although a real patriot is not
likely to neglect these observances.
1t consists rather in devotion to the
common good and in such common
place activities as honest declarations
to the tax assessors, careful study of
political problems, some political
problems, some political work, regu-
lar voting-but not necessarily voting
with the regulars" participat-
ion in civic undertakings.
Similarly, one cannot set oneself up
as a dutiful son or daughter merely
by wearing a carnation and writing a
number of letters. There is more to
the proposition than this. Just what
that more" is may well be left to the
son or daughter to determine, for the
expression of it must be guided by
the emotions of ones own heart and
not by any rules laid down by custom
or appointed committees. But it is
to be hoped that Mothers Day served
to encourage a few of the ideas that
have doubtless been lurking in the
minds of the younger generation, and
which, if carried out, would leave 10
doubt in many mothers mind as to
the honor and reverence and love
which her children feel toward her.
Young men and women, being human,
are apt to be self-centered. Older
cles, too, suffer from this DISEASE;
but no mother, of whatever age, can
fail in her love for her children 20
show low far love can overcome
this human frailty. And if few sens
and daughters yesterday broke d,wr
the hmr .ers which it has set up = tn
in them Mothers Day has justified
rs existence.