Our Past Is Present July 24, 2017

July 24, 2017

            This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            Sibling rivalry is common among families.  That was certainly true about Frank, Andy and John Flower, who were brothers.   Here is an example of a typical day in 1924, when the boys teased each other in a spirited and amusing way.

            What started out to be a beautiful day for Junction City merchants, Andy and John Flower got spoiled when their brother, Frank, walked into their store with a large bouquet. Frank stated that while they were busy raising vegetables in their backyards, he was doing something to beautify the town by raising flowers in his front yard.  With that remark he presented the bouquet to them.  With true brotherly spirit, Andy and John lit into Frank and gave him a verbal dressing down.  The boys were clear that although their last name WAS Flower, Andy and John had always raised vegetables and they didn’t think very highly of a man who spent his time puttering with flowers.  Anyway, they said, all Frank had to do was sit in his office and watch the money from rental properties roll in, running home occasionally to the 35 minute job of hoeing his flower beds.  They, however, worked all day in the store and did their gardening after super and before breakfast, raising vegetables that would be of real value instead of flowers that would only satisfy the eye. 

            Perhaps if you have siblings, you have experienced a similar rivalry.  In the end though, it is also common for siblings to be the best defenders of each other when that need arises.