OPPORTUNITY FOR RECOGNITION OF MOTHERS' DAY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 95, 8 May 1937, Page 17

OPPORTUNITY FOR RECOGNITION OF MOTHERS' DAY

• Mother 's Day, is the one day in the whole year which is set apart for sons and daughters in many lands to offer some small recognition of the great debfc ow.ecL to every mother for her cohtinuai devotion to tlio interests of otbers. ' ' One of ihe more obvious ways of recognition is by some small gift. Tbe privilege of giving is within tbe reach. oi ,al], Everyone knowS that the valiie of a preent does not depend upon its intrinsie worth. No matter Low small tbe gift you will realise that you have given real pleasure to. someone wbo bas done much for you. TJSE OEIGIN OF THE DAY In old England, Mid-Lent Sunday was known as Mothering Day. Tbe name arose from a cbureb custom wbiob. encouraged children wbo bad grown up pnd wero in komes of tbeir own, to re-visit on tbat day the cld home and tbeir parents. Some little present was generally taken to tbe old toik, and the visitors were said to be "going a-mothcring " — tbence this particular Sunday got its iname. An American lady, Mrs Anna Jarvis, saw tbe poesibilities in that good old custom j " and in that land of new ideas. earnestly advocated tbe adoption of this old one. People are slow tp take up ihe good; and we believe Mrs Jar« vis died without sefeing any general observance of tbe day. However, her daughter carried on the propaganda, and through ber> eiforts, fo'unding and organising tbe Mother's Day International Association, tbe secopd Sunday in May was by Act of Congress officially designated; as tbe Natjonal Motbei 's Day. Tbat was in 1914; aince tben the .movement bas become world-wide, and every -year brings an increasing recognition of tbe day. A- word about Mptbens' Day gifts I Tbia occasion, more tban any otber, shpuld. at ali costs be kept' free from tbe ill-afforded over-generosity of tbe ppor and meaningless estravagancp of tbe ricb, both of which tend to rob a gift of its easential value. The mere gpendipg of money, even if it is bardearned, illJspared and precious, means little to the one person in tbe world

wbo bas never let financial considejations interfere in ber relationship witb you. If time and talent are not avail* able for a personal gift — a piece of your own enibroidery, a bouquct from your own garden— seleet a gift wbicb you are certain wiH fill a real gap in ber daily routine, not, as is often tbe case, some trifle tbat catcbea your own fancy, but may by no means catch hers. Whatever gift you hnally choose, haw. ever pretentious, bowever humble, •bp sure tbat a tender tbougbt and a loving message must go witb it for it to acbieve its purpose. TJSE OF CHEYSANTHEMUM8 There wilj be a keen demand In Hawke's Bay tbis week-end for cbrysanthemums, wbicb, because tbey are tbe most popular wMte flowers in blooro at tbis time of tbe year, baye been accepted as the emblem of Mother's Day. To-morrow tbe chrysantbemum will come into its own, for everyone wbo hafe any true regard for tbe significance of Mother 'b Duy will not fail to wear tbis emblem. In America, wbere Mother's Day originated, tbe carnation is accepted aS tbe emblem, becanse it is tbe most popular flower in bloom in May. It is tbe custom tbere for sons and daughters to wear a wbite carnation if tbeir mother is no longer living, but otberwise a red earnation Let every day be Mother's Day — Make roses grow long ber way And beauty everywhere. Oh never let ber eyes be wet Witb tears of sorrow or regret, And never cease to" carel Come growh up children and rejoice Tbat you can bear your mother's voice. ^ A day for berf For you sbe gave Long years of love and service brave. For you ber youth was spent; Tbere was no weight of burt or cari Too heavy for bei strengtb to bear, Sbe followed wbero you went; Her courage and ber love sublime You could depend on all tbe time. — Edgnfr Guest.