Evening Star Newspaper, April 21, 1940, Page 89

DO SONS LIKE | THEIR FATHERS? "My Dad'’s the greatest man in the world,” says the ten-year-old. But what happens when that same ten-year-old grows up? by Virginia Terhune Van de Water Poor Pa!” But the title is, 1 fear, too undignified. Yet it conveys the idea I have in mind. For, looking at fathers of sons dispassionately, I find them tremen- dously pathetic. Of course they do not know they are pathetic. In fact, when a man has be- come the father of a son, he feels that a wonderful thing has happened to him. He may remain feeling like that for some years, while the child is young enough to regard him as a marvel of strength, of wisdom, of prowess. For perhaps a dozen blissful years, the sentence ‘‘My father says so!” is cften on the lips of the small boy. And, if the father happens to overhear the words, they are the sweetest kind of music to his ears. He would be wise — if he only knew it — to make the most of this period. For it will not last. With adolescence, the average boy ceases to idolize his father and becomes his critic. As the years pass, criticism changes to cen- sorship — or, worse still, to boredom. Many people will challenge that statement. Yet there are men who are fair enough to cast aside sentimentality and conventional patter and speak honestly on this subject. A son's attitude toward his mother 1s entirely different from that toward his father. In infancy he clings to his mother with all the love of which he is capable. As he grows up, and clings no longer, he mentally makes her the one who clings to him. He knows she be- licves that he is a necessity to her I'D LIKE to call this article “Pity happiness, as she was to his happiness in childhood. She loves him deeply and, usually, much less critically than the father does. Chivalry, tenderness, sometimes compassion for her weak- ness, if she be weak — admiration for her gallantry if she be strong — are components of lads’ and men’s senti- ments for their mothers. Whether the women deserve it or not, they are reverenced as their hus- bands never are. If one doubts it, let him consider Mother’s Day. It has been made a special occasion by old and young. Compare it with Father’s Day. In spite of the pains of men’s stores to play up enthusiasm, this date set apart for Dad has never really ‘“‘got across” with the public. But He Means Well AND yet — poor lamb! — he means so well! When Jack is old enough to be interested in sports, Dad tries to initiate him into his own favorite game. “Suppose we start some tennis, Son?”’ he suggests, in what he hopes is a comradely manner. “We could have fine times playing together.” *All right,” Jack acquiesces, half- heartedly. There is something else he would far rather do with someone of his own age, but he will be mag- nanimous and .try to humor Dad’s whim. If, however, he is not an embryo tennis star, he will soon show that he is bored. His parent may be bored too, but he ‘does not give up his efforts at teaching the game until he is convinced that his son does not care IPANA PRESENTS ] Of course you are in- THIS WEEK MAGAZINE Basse Camero Guild, Inc. Fathers should make the most of this period. For it won't last for his favorite sport. Then, with some regret, but with genuine relief too, he hints that the lad may, perhaps, prefer spending the rest of the after- noon with one of his chums. Which idea Jack accepts with unflattering joy. Not only has tennis bored him; Father has bored him, too. All too seldom are father and son congenial. I can think of only a few instances in which John, Sr., and Jack have hit it off wonderfully well. On 9 the other hand, I have seldom known mothers and sons who have not been devoted to each other. Mother is a heroine; father is not a hero — except to his daughters. But fathers and daughters are another story, and one that is too long to be told in this brief article. Recently I was talking with an elderly man who is devoted to his two daughters. He spoke of them with tender admiration. Knowing that he had a son who is making a name for himself in his chosen profession, I mentioned him. Excellent Tarms! “YES." the father said. ‘““He is doing very well. He is a fine chap.” “He must be a great companion to you,”’ I observed. The parent looked embarrassed. “We get on very well,”” he remarked, “but we are not intimate. The fault is probably mine. I may have slipped up somewhere — although I meant to do my best. Do not think,” he added hastily, ‘‘that Dick is not all that is good and honorable. He is. But — " He smiled wistfully. ‘I used to think that he and I would be intimate chums; now 1 know that we won't. But, as I say, the fault may be mine. Perhaps 1 did not understand beys. Yet, of course, Dick and I are on excel- lent terms.” Excellent terms! I remembered hear- ing this man say, years ago, that on the night of his son’s_birth he had thanked the Lord that a son had been given him. “And I am not a praying man,” he had said, flushing. “But I know that as long as we both live I shall have this wonderful companion, a part of myself, to stand shoulder to shoulder with me, and that when I must lay down the torch of life, he wiil take it up and go on where I leave off.” Very old-fashioned and sentimental, do you say? But the father believed it all. And then, in modern phrase, he woke up. The wakening was, of course, gradual. (Continved on page 12) / How do 29« Rate Yourselt? /} formed on modern oral hygiene—but how well are you informed? Here are six questions designed to test your knowledge of TEETH and GUMS. YOU should score 100—for the sake of your smilel One of these new types of ‘homework’’ is apt to benefit today's school children most in future years: Metal Working Conversational French Target Practice Gum Massage I'hanks to modern teachers, many chil- dren today learn how important irm gums are to sound teeth. They know how vital massage 1s to healthy gums—and in help- ing to protect the Smiles of Tomorrow! Ihe answer: Guin Massage. l\ if you dined out with a modern dentist, he would probably approve your choice of one of these—for your smile’'s sake: Celery and Apple Salad Weish Rabbit Chicken a la King As today's soft foods often tend to deprive gums of the vigorous chewing they need, many dentists suggest massage with Ipana. This rouses gum circulation, tends to make gums firmer. Answer: Celery and Apple Salad—rto give gums needed exercise. ’You can identify the ipana tube which so many of us recommend,’’ says this modern dentist, “‘by the ...’} Special “‘last squesze’’ key Needie vaive on top of tube Brilliant red-and-yellow stripes Many modern dentists suggest Ipana be- cause 1t's especially designed for massag- ing gums as well as brushing teeth. Mas- saged into the gums, it rouses circulation, helps gums to a new firmness. The answer: Brilhant Red -and -Yellow Stripes Which of the following has made this important warning, ‘‘Neverigaore ‘Pink Tooth Brush’l”, its own? The National Safety Council The town of Pink Tooth Brush, No. Daketa Ipana Tooth Pasts *“Pink™ on your brush may mean trouble ahead. Generally, however, it merely means that your gums have become tender from lack of exercise. To help combat this, many dentists suggest Ipana and massage. An- swer: Ipana Tootn Paste. Which one of these is a false statement ?: 32 testh make 2 full aduit sot Many medern dentists doubt the connection between gum health and sound testh Ipana is the largest-seliing tooth pasts in the United States In research, America’s dentists lead the world. Today, they know that sound, spar- kling teeth depend upon healthy gums. The false statement is: Many modern den- tists doubt the connection between gum health and sound teeth. Do As 80 MAXY modern dentists suggest. Buy a tube of economical Ipana Tooth Paste from your druggist —today! Start now to make Ipana and massage part of your regular daily dental routine — for your smile’s sake! IPANA TOOTH PASTE