Fitzgerald leader enterprise and press. (Fitzgerald, Ben Hill County, Ga.) 1921-1964, 1923-05-17
Origin of Dav

stration in that, and in every succeed
ing year. The fist discussion was over
a proper name. When Mothers Day.
was suggested it was considered not
d!sticntive enough as most OF the club
members were themselves mothers,
tho of another generation than those
we wished to honor "Old Ladies" and
'Grandmothers" were the two names
considered most appropriate with the
final choice of "Grandmothers" as that
raeans SO much to everybody.
This name was not intended to elm
mate from the hospitality of the club
those old ladies who had the misfor-
tune to be childless and even unmar-
RED but all were included in the origin
al plan to make the old ladies of the
town happy by bringing them togeth
er in the pleasantest possible way.
Early Custom
For the first few years the event
was held in the Fall and seated lun-
cheon at the noon hour was the usual
order, but when it was noted that the
heavy meals were really too much for
the majority OF the guests, a lighter
rcpast was favored and later after
noon hour was set
After some time it was decided that
the warm spring time would be a bet
ter time to get some of the shut-ins
out to these occasions as the cold Fall
weather had often interfered.
Lates Plan
1t was then that garden party
i'll May and the blooming time of the
Dorothy Perkin roses was the impel-
ling note for the settling of the date.
Since then as a mere coincidence, the
factor OF Mother and Daughter week,
so widely observed, has entered in,
TO make the annual celebration a more
'auspicuous one and the second week
Of May is undoubtedly the most APP
propriate time OF the year to hold this
beautiful event.
Committees Work with Test
No social affair of the year is work
ed out with such cheerful alacrity by
all committees. The teleuhone and au-
tomoble committees began their work
at least week ahead and early We'd
nesday morning the flower committee,
composed of Mesdames G.. w. Turner,
J p. Manning and R. V. Woodham
began their work of decorating both
the interior and the spacious porch of
Mrs. E. A. Russefs home. While it
had been hoped that the guests might
assemble on the wide lawn, the unpro-
missing aspect of the weather made
ether preparations necessary in case
of rain. A Japanese scheme was used
largely in the decorations, inverted
umbrellas, four in number, holding
quantities of daisies, being suspended
III wide doorways of the lower floor
which was thrown open for the assem-
bling of the large company, and Japa-
rese lanterns were suspended from the
ceiling.
A profusion of the May flowers,
sweet peas, nasturtiums, and daisies,
in vases, baskets and jardinieres, orna-
mented the mantels and the small ia
bles scattered thru the rooms, at
which the guests were seated later,
during the luncheon hour
On the porch the same plan of dec
Grafton was followed, some of the
lunch tables being placed there also.
At the porch entrance Mrs C. L.
Saunders had charge OF the registra-
ton book in which the guests as they
arrived were asked to inscribe their
names and ages The handsome book
Stimulating japanese lantern was the
hand work OF Mrs. Saunders. Mrs.
r. H. Mckay presented the favors
which were handpainted emblems in
the shape of lanterns and bearing the
guests name. Mrs H. c. Vinson with
note book in hand kept account of the
arrival of the expected guests by au-
tomobile, that none might be over
looked Some fourteen ladies were
especially Jealous in transporting them
all namely:
MesdameS:
R. M. Ware
0 L Bradshaw
Z G Hale
] p Manning
Geo. Gray
Guy Robinson
o L Downing
Jack Mayes
T F Matthews
T ] Dorminey
H Benton
E Turner
Frank Ward
Assisted by:
C. E. Kicker
]. A. Jones
And others.
Program
The greeting of the guests was made
entirely informal and seats were pro-
vided at once for all the Grandmoth-
ers who were soon happily renewing
the associations that some enjoy only
at these annual celebrations. After
q social hour during which the last ex-
pected guest had arrived short and
interesting program was Offered as
follows:
Greetings from Mrs. L. A. Turner
past president.
Greetings from Mrs. R. E. Lee the
new president.
Response from Mrs. w. F. Jones
for the Grandmothers.
japanese Dance by Miss Helen Will
iiams.
Humorous reading by Mrs. A. H
Shirley.