The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-18
FOR FEMININE READERS
THE WEAR AND TEAR OF MODERN
SOCIAL LIFE ON MANY WOMEN.
Complicated Politics of New York
Women's C1ubs-Up-to-Date FASH
fons-Engaged Couples.

The mother who, coming in from the cat
home,'' which followed the luncheon, which
supplemented the mornings shopping, lifts
her little one into her lap, finds, says a
writer in the New York Post, that the
curly head cannot rest easily upon the un-
comfortable trimming of her heavy walk
ing dress, and the boy who treads on the
fine gown as he presses near the maternal
knee does not look into calm, tender eyes,
full of loves warmth. Six or eight hours
of exciting and hurried contact with a
changing medley of people and things has
exhausted vitality and left body and mind
tired and nervous"
We have to create storage batteries"
within our hearts to guard them from ex-
hsustion. if we would be the handmaidens
OF the sun and represent his life-giving
presence when his mighty influences are
lost by Mother Earth's travels. We can
not give out those precious qualities which
the home atmosphere requires, in order TO
maintain a steadfast equipoise of health
full cheerfulness. unless there are times of
genuine repose in which our own spirits
are fed.
No human brain. no mortal body, can
sustain unimpaired the constant friction
with modern life and its complex demands
without an allowance of time for recupera-
ton. The generating forces of horsepower
must have opportunity of action, TO be
ready to supply the great needs of any
woman who properly maintains her place
liz the activities of her home and the So
cial environment that surrounds 1t. A
time and place for uninterrupted quiet
thought and repose of body are as essen
f1Dl food cf1d afV
To be so pressed and harassed as to have
to make note of every trifiing matter TO
which one ought to give attention because
We are in danger of forgetting it; to make
of ones mind a sort OF waste basket into
which scraps of all sorts are thrown in
discriminatory, and in which We have often
TO make search for things most precious,
but showed under" by refuse, is to destroy
life, lose charm and throw away mental
force We are like children tramplng ruth
lessy over a garden rich with bloom to
catch evading butterflies.
1.-The season" is at hand The engravers
are working through night hours to pre-
pare cards OF invitation innumerable; every
possible form of hospitality, amusement. d.
version and Improvement is forming it's
array of tempting variety. The two great
festivals of Thanksgiving and Christmas
are at hand; the family wardrobe has to be
made ready for winter; the gaps in the
whole list of domestic storehouse, linen
closet, pantry, ETC., have TO be made good.
the hours of light are brief-let us beware
We are likely to dim all the luster of our
lives by succumbing to the temptation to do
herculean task with the strength of
delicate woman.
So much and no more can we do WELL
each in our order of endowment. The
little CHEEKY responsive electric candle at
our bedside, which kindles so promptly
as TO seem alive and to smile at us as
we mark the hour, cannot be depended on
to throw out a strong ray into the dark
ness of some vast hall. We women find
an apt type of our powers in the limit
and the force of the electric currents con-
trolled by generating clements We can
give out in exact proportion to the COM
bining materials in our hearts, and we
can wreck both ourselves and our homes
by false or unenlightened use, and leave
both in helpless darkness when need is
greatest.
There is almost mathematical accuracy
possible to the calculation of what a
thoughtful, sensible woman can do we'll
and helpfully, and there is neither reason
nor right in trying to go beyond that limit.
Few lives weighted down with real
obligations that there is no room for both
relaxation and some brief season of re-
pose. There are women whose destiny
1t is to struggle with unequal odds of over
mastering care. but if these could see that
incessant mental activity defeats its own
endeavor, and that unending physical strain
deprives ability of its strength. they would
conquer time in which to make them
selves more fit for their labors.
If we could keep a private account-book
in which we entered our times of dark
ness, those regretted moments In which we
had cheerful word for our dear ones.
no light to throw a troubled mind, no
warmth TO impart to chilled heart no
gladdening quality to infuse into the wfntry
atmosphere of our homes, We would begin
TO see the need to store UP light and
warmth and grow economical of our nerv-
Gus forces. 1t is no mean Office to be the
coadjutor of the sun.