Durant Daily Democrat
July 12, 1910
Red Roses May Bloom for Father
Nominal House Head May be Real Thing Once a Year
Kansas City, Mo. July 11- Dad may have his day in Kansas City as well as in Spokane, Wash. For Mrs. J. B. Hood and some other women are planning to have June 3 set aside on which to treat the nominal head of the house with respect, love, and veneration due his position.
Mrs. Henry N. Ess, former president of the Athenaeum women’s society here, is one of those who will push the idea in her club circles. She announces that she is not only willing to go to the front for father, but that if the holiday becomes locally recognized she will do all she can with word and deed to make it popular.
“Why not have a father’s day?” inquired Mrs. Ess over the telephone last night in answer to a query. “Certainly, every man, woman, and child with a male parent living and a spark of filial devotion, would recognize such a proposition as one filling a long felt want.
The idea of pinning a big red rose on father’s lapel, and then planting a kiss, which is more to the point, on his lips at least once a year, is so new as to be attractive and desirable for that reason alone. This is an age of fads. Most of them are useless and devoid of sentiment, but here is one which, if it went into vogue, would be a fit subject for poets to dilate on. At the same time, it might help to recall the old-time family affection now being educated out of existence. I want to say that I am in favor of the plan. Aren’t you?”
“Here is the situation, as it appears to me,” Mrs. Ess continued, “Father, because he is the head of the family, is a much imposed upon person. He gets his three meals, like as not, but what else does he get more than the law allows or habit requires? Mother takes the brood to Atlantic City, or the Pacific Coast, or the mountains in the summer time. Pa gets an embrace from his wife, a handshake from Billy, and maybe a chance to kiss Mayme through the powder- if the train is late. That’s because he pays the bills and is an all around good fellow, don’t you know.
Now what I would like to see is a revolution so far-reaching and of such import to humanity that the future granddaughters and grandsons of those taking part in it might look askance at the charter of the D.A. R. and kindred societies.
I certainly will take up the matter at the next meeting of the Athenaeum,” said Mrs. Ess. “I have tried to communicate with Mrs. H. T. Wright, the president , today, but failed to find her at home. When I see her, I will ask her to make space for a discussion of a father’s day measure at the next meeting.”
The Father’s day plan has been much talked of here in the last few days and it is to be considered at least by one women’s society at the next meeting in a week or so. What will be done with it then is, of course, a conjecture, but judging from the popularity with which it has been received in the state Washington, it seems safe to predict that it will carry and be strictly observed.
In fact it has been discovered that every class of public benefactor from mother down to the dog have their day, with the exception of father. No notice has been taken of him at all. And this, prominent club women of the city say, is a downright shame.
The proposition Mrs. Hood has introduced in Spokane and which is finding favor here, is that on a duly appointed and set aside holiday each member of the family shall go to father, tell him how much he is appreciated and pin a big red rose on hm. Mrs. Hood has taken her plan to the ministers and that is the way a campaign for a new holiday may be begun here in a few days.