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Apbil 21, 1910. 



The Weekly Florists^ Review* 



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MOTHERS' DAY 



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THE FLORIST 



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A DAY WE MUST PUSH. 



Let Everybody Help. 



It is not often fortune favors the 

 lorists the way it has with Mothers' 

 (ay — the second Sunday in May. 



But the Trade should not depend 

 vhoUy on the fact that the sentiment 

 vhich inspired Mothers' day has ap- 

 pealed to the great American people 

 LS nothing else has done in recent years 

 -we should grasp our opportunity and 

 ■ lo our utmost to acquaint the public 

 with the purpose of this annual event: 

 • ' To honor the best mother who ever 

 lived — your own." 



Mothers' day is but two years old, but 

 last year it brought a lot of business to 

 every florist who made effort to arouse 

 interest — and to some who only sat idly 

 waiting for others to work up the in- 

 terest for them. So let's all do our share 

 this year and push this new flower day 

 into a leading place among the Trade's 

 special dates. 



There are many ways it can be done 

 — but none of these ways includes raising 

 prices. Don't do that; reduce them, if 

 anything. 



Origin of Mothers' Day. 



Mothers' day in 1908 took florists by 

 surprise. Few had heard of it before 

 the call for flowers came, and several 

 wrote to the Eeview for information. 

 The number of letters received last year 

 was greater, but nowhere near so many 

 as have come in this month, showing how 

 the interest is growing. 



The origin of Mothers ' day seemed 

 shrouded in the mists of antiquity when 

 it was only a year old. The Federation 

 of Women's Clubs, when appealed to at 

 that time, disclaimed responsibility, but 

 said, "It's a fine idea." Officials of the 

 Congress of Mothers replied, ' ' We have 

 no record of Mothers' day, but the idea 

 is good; we shall call attention to it 

 ut our next annual meeting." Finally, 

 the search for someone to whom the 

 credit could be given led to an individual, 

 Miss Anna Jarvis, 2031 North Twelfth 

 street, Philadelphia, who conceived the 

 idea in the desire to commemorate the 

 anniversary of her mother's death. It 

 was not only the thought of laying some 

 llowers on mother's grave, but it oc- 

 'urred to her that it would be a beau- 

 tiful tribute to all mothers, the living as 

 well as the dead, if their children, on a 

 given day, would unite in the simple 

 wearing of white flowers. She wrote a 

 letter about it to a Philadelphia news- 

 paper and it was this that caused 

 Mothers' day to break out in spots all 

 over the country. 



No Special Flower Needed. 



MLss Jarvis suggested the white car- 

 nation as the Mothers' day flower par 

 excellence. "Its whiteness stands for 

 purity; its form, beauty; its fragrance, 

 Jove; its wide field of growth, charity; 

 its lasting qualities, faithfulness — all a 

 true mother's attributes," she wrote. 



But the way the sentiment appealed to 

 the people was too strong for the supply 

 of white carnations — there were not 

 enough to go around — and it was sug- 

 gested that white flowers be worn for 

 mothers gone before, bright flowers for 

 mothers living. So let.it be. 



How Florists Can Help. 



In the first place, every florist can ad- 

 vertise Mothers' day. Put a card in 

 your window. You can do a great deal 

 by using space in your local papers a 

 few days before May 8. Besides, you 

 can enlist the aid of the editors. They 

 will appreciate the sentiment and help it 

 along. 



Then, too, you can bring to your aid 

 the Woman's Club, the churches, the 

 Y. M. C. A. and the fraternal orders. 

 The idea appeals to all classes. 



Why not get the mayor of your city 

 to issue a proclamation similar to the 

 one issued for the first Mothers' day by 

 the mayor of Lincoln? Here it is: 



MOTHERS' DAY PROCLAMATION. 



Office of the Mayor, 



City of Lincoln, Neb. 

 To tlie People of Lincoln: 



The secretary of the Lincoln Young Men's 

 Christian Association having suggested that 

 Sunday, May 10, be observed by the people of 



this city as Mothers' day, every man to wear on 

 inspiring that other cities will, In future years, 

 follow the example. 



Witness my hand as mayor of the city of Lin- 

 coln, Neb., this 6th day of May, A. D. 1908. 



F. W. BROWN, Mayor. 



You see, he did it at the suggestion of 

 the Y. M. C. A. If you think your 

 own "pull" isn't strong enough, get a 

 leading minister to approach His Honor. 

 Don't be bashful about it. It's a good 

 idea and they'll all take to it. 



When the day arrives, if you live in 

 a town not' too large, deck out each 

 street car conductor with a flower early 

 in the morning — they all had mothers. 

 Start the church-goers and Sunday prom- 

 enaders wearing flowers, and you soon 

 will find the idea will take a big hold 

 and mean a good day's business. 



How It Worked Last Year. 



In its issue of April 29 last year the 

 Keview called attention to Mothers' day 

 and pointed out the desirability of help- 

 ing the idea along; also, some ways in 

 which it could be done. Quite a few 

 took hold and did their part with a will 

 and several afterward wrote the Eeview 

 about it. This is the way it worked out : 



In London, Ont. 



We want to express our appreciation 

 of the article which appeared in the Re- 

 view April 29, regarding Mothers' day. 

 The press cheerfully came to our aid 

 and exploited the sentiment expressed, 

 to such an ^extent that it was taken up 

 by nearly all the religious bodies -in the 

 city and, with but few exceptions, it was 

 the theme of discourse at either morn- 

 ing or evening services. In several of 

 the churches the members of the choir 

 all wore white fiowers. 



From a business standpoint, it was an 

 unqualified success. Although prepara- 



Wear a Flower for Mother's Sake 



To honor the best Mother who ever lived — your own. That 

 is the purpofie of Mothers' Day. 



SUNDAY. MAY 8 



A white flower for Mother's memory. 

 A bright flower for Mothers living. 



We shall be prepared Satardaj, Maj 7, and Sanday, May 8, ^ith a 

 large assortment of fine, fresh flowers, appropriate for Mothers' Day, 

 offered at oar asaal moderate prices. Ail customers served promptly. 



Special rates to Sanday Schools, Lodges, etc. 



Posey & Blossom, -""'""'" ""'^Si st™... 



Suggestion for Newspaper Advertisement to Help Push Mothers' Day. 



that day a flower in honor of his mother, I have 

 been requested to ask for general compliance 

 with the suggestion. 



Therefore, in pursuance of this request anil 

 as mayor of the city of Lincoln, Neb., I hereby 

 recommend that by general con.sent, Sunday, 

 May 10, 1908, be set apart as Mothers' day and 

 that on that day every man and every boy In 

 the city of Lincoln and every visitor within 

 our gates, wear a flower in honor of his mother. 



And I suggest that the day be made a special 

 occasion for sending flowers to the invalids in 

 Lincoln homes, to the sick in hospitals and to 

 the orphans in public and denominational insti- 

 tutions. 



It is eminently fitting that in this, as In 

 other worthy movements. Lincoln take the lead. 

 Let us liopu that the first Mothers' day observed 

 in this licaufiful city will be so successful and 



tion had been made in anticipation, by 

 four o'clock on Saturday afternoon not 

 a white carnation was to be had in the 

 city, and before eight o 'clock not a white 

 flower of any description could be ob- 

 tained. Hundreds of customers had to 

 be turned away after the supply ran out. 

 J. Gammage & Sons. 



In the Southwest. 



Tulsa, Okla., came bravely to 'the front 

 May 9 in observing Mothers' day. The 

 Citv Federation of Women's Clubs in- 



