Evening star., 1935-05-12

l5 one, the absence of
t&sN one OF these small
symbols of Mothers
Day on dress or on
coat lapel would seem to be deliberate
reputation of sentiment. And yet, as hap
pen to know because of the letters that each
year at this season drift through my mail,
those very ones who have held their mothers
in deepest affection shrink from barring their
inmost feelings by displaying flower which
is white.
Have you ever noticed Tin the past years, of
course - don't know yet about today how
many red ones we see, and how few whittier A
red one is bought casually, light -heartedly; it
is no more than toast, or an Hello" over
the telephone, Happy day to you, mother
DEAR
But white one - we can not know as we
60 down the street how many white ones are
worn unseen. Moreover there are Thousands
whose sentiments are far from numb. but who
bitterly resent the fact that fiial love could be
so lacking as to make It necessary to set apart
especial day in order that daughters and sons
should once in year be induced to remember
their mothers.
But taken in the spirit in which this re-
membrance day must have been intended. it
is day set aside for the encouragement of
thoughts OF home - as Sunday is set apart for
the encouragement of prayer - which does
not imply that prayers are not said every day
in the year.
Remembering anniversaries is popularity
supposed to be an especial gift possessed by
most women and completely lacking in most
men - particularly in American men. Which
makes it essential perhaps that we Americans
set apart a variety of days to lead our thoughts
into paths OF tenderness or courage, patriotism
or truth. as the case may be.
The good resolutions of New Years day
are always a promise of failures erased, as
well as an encouragement for the new be-
ginning of all the things we hope to do, and
to be. The birthdays of Washington and
Lincoln can not do other than inspire the
youth of America to follow the example of
their nobility.
St.Valentine's Day is day of light hearted
sentiment, day on which every man is i'm
pelled to send, or to take to Her a trifling
gift. Lives there young girl or a woman who
is not thrilled by the words, For my Valen-
tine" whether they be enclosed with long
box of flowers or with single rose. Still less
does the size of florists boxes count in CON-
parison with the messages they bring.
As write there comes to mind young
Italian who once stayed with US in the country.
The day he left was his birthday and he
wanted to take some flowers to his mother.
There were lots of flowers in the garden. but
none of them would do. He wanted only white
lilacs - and ours were out of bloom.
So we drove to four different florists, each
OF them several miles apart, but they did not
have them. Finally. however, we passed
house in a shady valley that had lilacs grow
ing by the door, which our young friend
managed to persuade the owner to SELL
On our way to the train by which he was
leaving. asked, Doesn't your mother like
any other flowers?" Said he, "Of course she
does, but l had to find these for today because
twenty-five years ago, in spite of the protests
of both nurse and doctor, she went out in the
garden and gathered an armful of white lilacs,
and took them back to her room as welcome
present to me - and came along in about an
hour
This story is not meant to suggest that