The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-05-15
OdlaY
AND
Tomorrow
Rv
Frank Parker StOckridge

In May, 1906, Philadelphia
spinster sat by the bedside OF her
diving mother = the mother who
had been her inspiration. her
close companionnandsvherachief
source of comfort throughout her
life.
When her mother finally passed
away, Anna Jarvis felt that the
props had been knocked out from
under her. She had friends to
turn to, but there was no friend
who could come near to taking
the place of her mother whom
she had loved so deeply.
Mourning deeply over the death
of her mother, Anna Jarvis real
lied that she was not alone in
her misery IT that men and wo-
men all over the world felt the
same deep sense of loss when
their mothers passed away.
Anna Jarvis decided that some
thing should be done to give spe-
cial honor to mothers while they
are alive. She discussed her
thoughts on the subject with the
pastor of her church. He agreed
on the first anniversary OF her
mothers death, to hold special
service to honor beloved mothers
everywhere.
That service was the beginning
of Mothers day.
WILSON proclamation
The Mothers day idea appealed
to so many people that in 1913
the year after the first Mothers
day service in Philadelphia, the
idea had spread to other churches
in all sections of the country.
That year the governor OF Flor
ida issued a Mothers day procla-
nation and nationwide publicity
was given to the special event
honoring the mothers OF our ma
ton.
By 1914 the idea had grown to
such national proportions that
President Wilson issued a national
proclamation that the second Sun
day in May should be celebrated
as Mothers day.
The Presidents proclamation
made Mothers day official ana
ever since then it has been OBJ
served in practically all churches
as we'll as in most homes.
It has become a day when chill
| dren make special effort to be
with their mothers and to demon
strate to them the love when
they feel but so often take for
granted.
Most mothers, who spend their
lives making sacrifices for their
children, want nothing in return
but real affection and a lasting
respect for the ideals which they
have striven to teach.
Mothers day serves as a sort OF
day of review in which we take
time to display our affection and
respect to our mothers.
GIFTS advertising
At times, while Mothers day
was becoming crystalized as an
annual event, critics warned that
its original purpose was being
lost behind the barrage of adver-
Using and sales efforts aimed at
selling Mothers day gifts. 1t is
true that Mothers day had be-
come a time for gifts and that 1t
was a profitable day for many
merchants.
But the appeal of the day itself
has been strong enough to With
stand commercialization and in
stead of feeling that store-keep-
ers are trying to squeeze dollars
from us with a sentimental ap-
peal, we now welcome their adj
vertising suggestions on appro-
pirate gifts for Mothers day.
It is a day on which most OF us
want to give presents and we ap-
preciate, rather than resent, the
fact that business men are max
ing special gift packages which
are particularly appropriate for
mothers.
Those who argue that Mothers
day shouldn't be commerciallzed
should compare it with Christ
mas. Most of us depend on the ad-
vertising and the stort Christmas
displays to aid us in getting ap-
propriate gifts. The advertising
doesn't sell us on giving-it mere
" assists us in shopping for gifts
which we intended to give any,
way.
We want suggestions for Mo-
theirs day too.
IDEALS -. American mother
Each year since 1885, the Gold
on Rule foundation has chosen
one American mother as being
representative of the best there
is in motherhood. This year, they
picked woman whom they also
considered well fitted to be the
spokesman for American mothers