The Washington times., 1902-09-07
VACATION SEASON over.
PEOPLE RUSHING HOME
Tanned Faces and Hands
Seen in Many Places.
Rush of Baggage at Railway Stations
and Wharves Causes Much
Confusion.

The vacation season is over and
tanned faces and hands are beginning
to be prominent along the streets Oh
Washington. Everyone who had sum-
mer vacation. whether three months
one or the breathing spell of week
has taken 1t and is now beginning to
count how many days he Will have to
pockets before he will again be able to
spend his years earnings at some ex-
pensive summer resort.
In the baggage-room at both of the
stations. and also on the wharves,
trunks are piled up to the roof and
weary porters are working overtime
trying to get rid of the great accumula-
tion Of baggage. The ordinary. force is
stalled by the great rush, and extra men
have been put to work.
Transfer companies are rushed with
orders for moving baggage from the
stations to the various homes, and their
inability to fill all orders as given natur-
ally results In blockade Of baggage at
the stations. Lucky indeed is the fam
lily that is able to have its trunks and
satchels delivered at the house within
twenty-four hours after arrival, and
many makeshifts to tide over the time
until the luggage reaches home must
be made by mater familias.
Rush Twice Yearly.
Twice yearly comes this same rush Of
travel: only the present rush is, as told
above, record-breaker. First of all.
there is the rush away from Washington
in the late days of June-which is the
favorite time for beginning vacations
and then the rush home during the first
week of September At both times the
trains are crowded and the baggage
rooms are overflowing with the personal
effects of the travellers. The facilities of
the railroads and the steamboats, making
Washington their headquarters are al
ways taxed to their utmost at these two
seasons of the year.
The closing and the opening of schools
have much to do with the arranging of
dren of school ages are forced to remain
in the city until the schools close, after
the middle of June, and are again forced
to come back to town early in Septem
Der, before the schools reopen, in order
to fit out the young ones for the great
event. The children are naturally the
most important elements in arranging for
vacations, and their time must be con-
sidered.
Woeful Stories of Summer.
Returning travellers tell woeful stories
of the summer. At the seashore and
in the mountains there was contin-
uance of cool weather during June and
July, which made the popular summer
resorts anything but agreeable places
of residence, and many were the wishes
expressed to get back to the Capital
City, where the weather ali summer
has been most pleasant and equable, and
where frequently the thermometer reg
istered less than at the various resorts.
August was a cool month, too. at the
Eastern resorts until the last week,
when ii began to warm up ant real
summer weather set In. Thus vas the
heart of the vacationer saddened by the
thought of returning home just as the
real summer began.
Confronted With Difficulties.
The returning housewives find them
selves confronted with many difficulties.
Coal bins are empty and coal is an al
most unattainabIe luxury. Few houses
closed in June were equipped with gas
ranges and there are many obstacles to
be overcome in cooking while waiting
for the gas man. Food is high in
price. The delicacies OF the season
are also Injuries. Everywhere she
.urns the housewife finds that domestic
conditions have greatly changed during
her absence, and with many the joy
Of getting home is narred by the wish
10 be off again anG let somebody else
10 the worrying. even il the bill of fare
s not as 1t would be at home. the hair
mattresses are so only in name, and the
looms are small and dingy.