Evening star., 1928-05-12
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS:
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

Tomorrow will be Mothers day. "
Every dutiful son and daughter will
then honor their mothers, and express
their love and appreciation with out
ward show of affection. or at least with
flowers or other tokens. II the mother
has died, then her last resting place will
be honored.
This beautiful practice Is distinctively
American the idea originated with Miss
Anna Jarvis Of Philadelphia. and by her
was so developed that. In 1910. IL was
taken up and observed In many cities
throughout the country. 1t was recog-
nized by Congress in q resolution
adopted on May 10, 1918, to observe
Mothers day by Congress and the
executive departments of the Govern
ment. In the same year. Nebraska made
1t n State flag day in expression OF the
patriotism OF that States homes. In
1914, Congress permanently authorized
the President to designate by annual
proclamation the second Sunday of May
as Mothers day. and to request the dis
play OF flags on public and private
homes. Thus Mother is linked with pa
triotism. from the beginning. How
we'll will flags testify tomorrow that
Washingtonians honor their mothers?
In n feeble way, Father is also includ-
ed In the hon0ring of Mother. and 1t Is
desired that all children show special
kindness and federation" of both par
entS on that one day. To say 1t with
flowers" ii Is not only an act of no
hility to offer cut flowers TO the parents.
but TO wear white carnation through
ont the day,
Modern society has drifted far away
from solemn observanceS of any me-
mortal day. Time was when the Fourth
of July was a great rallying day OF
patriotism; speeches were made by
orators. great and small: firecrackers
and cannons explosively demonstrated
how boiSterously men and boys loved
their country Horses SHE'D and thou
sands of men and boys were killed or
injured In the exuherance of the dem"
onstrations All that has passed.
Memorial day was a solemn occasion.
when oratory again led the programs,
and the patriots marched to cemeteries
To stand before the "htvouaeS of the
dead" Scarcely trace Of former
Solemnity Of that day remains. either
North or South. except among the vet
Grams or their immediate relatives, In
place Of inspiring patriotism now the
holidays are occasions OF sport, and
tnelt purpose N lkhotVO'
&%$
But all the decadence of abstract pa
trlotlSm might be condoned. rather than
let the day now set apart for honoring
mothers become neglected When We
forget sentiment we lose the Amer spirit
of life,
William II. Ridgeway relates a story
that In almost typical Of what grown. .tlp
men ralioused apparently hy the rough
contacts with the world. feel more often
than confess, IN heart-hunger for the
mother touch, He declares that In the
history nf America there have heen
three great orations. One Was by Pat
rick Henry, who cried for liberty or
death, the second was lineoln'S Oct
lyshurg address and the third was
by Henry w Grady, at New York, Hut
The public little knew what had pre-
eeded QtadyS moving eloquence and
made II possible,
Mr. GRADY had attended a convention
OF the Young Mems Christian ASSnela~
tlon In Atlanta, Ga, and part Of the
service ol praise was In forming \ chain
oi hand.clasp while all sang "nieSt
ne the Tie that binds" The people
urged the great editor to Join with
them, but he declined, saying "Yeu
lellows have something that I do not
have used to have II years age, back
hame with my mother, fear Il has
cot away from me, l want II hack"
y i
Then he said al his once, Il am
gatng aNaN and | don't want any one
Ia know where am
lie vent TO his aged mother and told