Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-13
Taking a Vacation.

ties, but-for the great mass of us it is
one of much consequence and to be
carefully considered. 1t is important
that everybody who works should take
vacation, a month If possible, two
weeks at least during the heated sea-
kson. And it is equally important that
everybody who has vacation should
learn how to take it. Like certain
drugs, vacation is of very dubious
value when wrongly administered.
AS q nation, it is undoubtedly true
that Americans do not know how to
make use of vacations and holidays.
We are apt to put too much of the
teristic of our business, our sports, our
politics and our social life. The art of
resting is too little understood among
busy people, and it is very often the
case that a man comes back from a
vacation more tired than when he went
away, and utterly lacking that re-
newed health and vigor which is
necessary If he would feel we'll and do
his best work through the following
months.
The two essential things to q really
successful vacation for one who has
been working hard are complete
change and absolute relaxation and
rest. The mechanic who goes on his
vacation should not take along his kit
of tools, nor the bookish person his IA
vorite volumes from his library. 1t
would do very WELL however, for the
mechanic to take along q few books
and for the booklsh person to take
along some tools. Strength, whether
mental or physical, is Slapped by con-
slant application to one kind of work,
| and the only way to restore it is by en-
| tire cessation of that sort of work. So
the student should leave his books and
| the mechanic his tools behind, the mer-
{chant his ledger and the lawyer his
leases, and the newspaper man, If he is
fortunate enough to have a vacation,
should not allow himself to look at a
newspaper during his absence from the
office
. Not only should a vacation be COM
plete change of scene and activity-if
activity" is word that can be used
| in discussing vacations-but it should
also be as near an approach TO COM
plete relaxation and rest as can he OBJ
tanned. During his vacation the busy
tramp. The man who can do an
artistic job of loafing a few weeks in
every year has acquired Il most valu-
able accomplishment. 1t will make
him a safer risk with the insurance
companies and put him on better
standing with his bankers.
| We have seen crowds of people at a
| fashionable summer resort, promenad-
ing the avenues and beach or sitting
on the hotel verandas, arrayed in the
height of stylish and uncomfortable
| fashion, eating sumptuOusly three
times q day and dancing to the point
of exhaustion at night. That sort of a
summer vacation" will do very well
for society people who can afford il
and who have plenty of time to rest in
later, but for those of us who are now
discussing the ways and means and
the time and place of the two weeks
we may manage to get away from
work, such vacation" Is worse than
folly. Infinitely better is a lonely cot
tage by the shore, or sequestercd
nook by an inland lake, or visit tC
the old home farm.
Get away, not only from your work
and the familiar surroundings, but also
as far as possible from the crowd
Where there is restraint there cannot
be real rest. Get into the woods if
possible, close to the heart of Nature
and the nearer you can return IOr the
time to the habits of your barbarian
ancestors, the more rested and re-
vitalzed you will return to your work
Wear as little as decency will allow;
(eat the simplest food; drink only
spring water and a lot of it; sleep II
hours a night, starting in when the
birds do: stay out of doors all day
and don't be afraid of sun or wind OIL
rain: forget that the world has such
things as cities or work or social OBJ
legations. Just lie back I'm the coo
shade and listen to the birds and lei
the hay make.
No, We are not likely to spend oul
vacation that way. But it is easy tc
give advice, and you will probably
agree with us that that would be &
good way for all hard working people
to spend the two or three weeks which
are given them for their own in the
| uon1 old S,,pornor limo