Evening star., 1943-05-09

To0ay v Mother'S Day. When
the originator Of the idea for the
observance Of = national mothers'
day first advanced her proposal, the
picture Of Whistler's Mother" was
adopted as portraying the accepted
idea Of what The average mother
would look like. In the years since
then, styles in mothers seem to
have changed, for now We ind few
grandmothers who remotely re-
semble the gentle old lady Of the
picture.
A special day set aside for the
honortn9 of mothers Is perhaps, all
right. Certainly, III it gives children
any real pleasure there Is no par
ticular harm done. But I venture
to state that the average mother
is much more embarrassed by the
prominence she suddenly attains,
than she is impressed by the fact
Of this special observance. Z
Somehow. I feel that this year
especially, the mothers Of America
are on trial. Enough time has
elapsed since December Z, 1941, to
prove what kind Of a job they have
done in equipping the young people
in our armed services to do their
part. It is true that these young
people were taught the ways Of
peace, but they also were taught the
meaning Of freedom and equality.
This training now is bearing fruit
IN the fine showing they are making.
From camps come reports of splen-
did morale, and eagerness to get at
the job and get 1t over with. From
battle fronts come stories of deeds
that we mothers knew our sons
would perform when put to the test.
But there is new crop Of young
sters growing up around us, children
who, while not classed as war ba-
bies." are nonetheless war chill
dren." They are the boys and girls
now In our schools, who are hearing
accounts Of adventure, Of courage,
Of heroism, beside which the tales
told In their history books pale be-
cause these stories they are hearing
now are about the young men they
know; the boys who have grown up
IN their own neighborhoods, whose
families still live just around the
corner. The spirit Of adventure
rides high in the heart of every ad-
descent boy and girl. and home ties
become increasingly irksome when
this adventure seems to lie Just be-
yond the forbidden horizon.
Here. then, Is where mothers big
gest responsibility as well as her
greatest opportunity is now to be
found. She must guide restive feet
along the road where lies the best
chance for happiness and helpful
ness. She must bring these chill
dren safely through this period of
excitement and beckoning adven.
ture.
So Mothers Day this year brings
into focus the role American moth
ers must play If American ideals are
to be preserved.
The Board Of Managers viii meet
Tuesday, at 10 O'Clock In the NEA
Building. In the absence Of the
president, who will be attending the
national board meeting in Chicago
Mrs. Alma Hudson, first vice presi-
dent, will preside. A fourth vice
president will be elected, to MI an
unexpired term.
The annual summer roundup is
now in progress with Mrs. Leo Ray
Wild, State chairman, reporting about
30 elementary schools enrolled. Last
year almost 800 pre-school children
were given physical examinations
and 1t is expected that the number
this year will be considerably in ex-
cess Of that. It is also the first time
that the record Of examinations
made will become q part Of the
chlld'S permanent school record.
BAir.Hayes.
The association will meet Thurs
day at 2 pm. at the Hayes School