THIS week’s selection of extracts from The Commercial, Shipping & General Advertiser, The Penryn & Falmouth Advertiser and The Borough Times, supplied by Penryn Museum.

From May 1919:

To the editor Penryn & Falmouth Advertiser. Sir _ I notice that a certain Town in Cornwall should have as a Peace Memorial a “Recreation Field,” why should not Penryn also adopt this scheme? Seats, swings, and even and band stand could also be erected, and plenty of space left for the children to play. If this were done I feel certain that the Vicar of St Gluvias and others would not have to complain of broken windows and other annoyances.

I know from personal observations that the police are constantly stopping the children from playing in the streets and are often asked “Where can we play?”

I ask the mayor and others who have been in various parts of the world, if they have ever been in any other town so inadequately supplied with playing places for the children as this ancient borough?

Come, Wake up! Penryn and give your children the same chance of growing up manly youths and healthy maidens as accorded them in other towns.

As a suggestion, is there not a field at West End suitable?

A LOVER OF CHILDREN

From May 9 1919:

Mother’s Day Letter: Sir - Permit me to bring before you readers the ideal idea of “Mother’s Day,” which so many have observed on the second Sunday in May. This is the day that was set apart in 1908 by Miss A Jarvis, of Philadelphia, and largely observed by the USA and other states.

In 1916 another movement was inaugurated by Mr J A Whitehead, of Richmond, to be celebrated on the 8th of August in each year.

Having been in correspondence with Mr Whitehead’s secretary, with a view to securing an amalgamation with the pioneer “Mother’s Day” movement, I learn that the YMCA has officially adopted this date in England when the nation may unite in honour of Mother. The secretary suggests that efforts should be deferred until the date which will shortly become official and celebrated in every country under the sun. He says: “By all means let the second Sunday in May be dedicated to the memory of Mother…”

Although August 8th will be generally observed, may I suggest that ministers of religion, Sunday school superintendents, and teachers give, as in former years, short addresses on “Mother” and thus join those of other countries, on Sunday next, to exalt Motherhood in the esteem of every man, woman and child.

Geo. Evans.