The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1904-07-07
THE MOTHERS VACATION.
"Mothers' substitutes Would Create
a New Occupation For Women.

| "MOtners' substitutes" Would Create
| a New Occupation For Women.
We say everybody ought to have a
vacation. No one tries to excuse this
necessity. Almost every one has at
some time experienced its benefits. It
Is not uncommon 10 hear that some
radical change of SURROUNDINGS and
occupation has brought back strength
supposed to be lost forever or even
cured what seemed a mortal disease.
But those who need this change the
most are the very ones who are IN
able to expect such a thing, much less
enjoy It
The more responsible the occupation
the more constant is the personal at
tention and the more sure the conse-
quent physical exhaustion and mental
strain Love for ones occupation
lightens work, but it very frequently
defers the necessary rest It should
be made imperative that those people
| who have the greatest responsibilities
should include vacation in their plans
for each year.
It is unnecessary to prove that a
mother holds the most responsible of
all positions, and we must add to this
responsibility the sewing, cooking and
cleaning that fall to the lot of the aver
age mother. But who ever heard of a
mother having a vacations real va
cation, not a "trip with the children,
but complete separation from home
ties and associations? That this idea
sounds like heresy may be sufficient
proof of the necessity for such a
change
But such custom will never origi-
nate among the mothers themselves.
Motherhood means unselflshness. If
any mother ever longs for change she
will conceal the longing and consider it
the morbid result of some nervous con-
dition- Teach the boys a practical
knowledge Of household duties and
family requirements that they may
know their proper performance occu-
pies seven days in the week, including
holidays and many nights! The moth
er's vacation must be planned for and
insisted upon by the father, since he is
her natural protector and in most cases
he holds the purse strings.
But the question, according to the
author Of the foregoing plea made In
the Boston Cooking School Magazine,
Is, Who viii undertake the care of
the family? When dread illness comes
we summon the trained nurse. At such
a time the condition Of the patient Is
much more critical than that of fam
lily rendered motherless for a week or
two. But why not educate mothers
substitutes and create a new occupa-
ton foY women? All over the country
may be found widows and unmarried
sisters who are left alone to earn
livelihood They have no practical
knowledge Of anything but homework
and are too old to enter upon any new
occupation. They must become either
servants or dependents. Many such
women are well educated and fitted to
become member Of any good home.
It is plain that such an occupation
as the proposed would require remark
able women. women able to do and
oversee all kinds of Homework, to en-
terrain and care for children, to meet
each emergency with promptness and
tact, to laugh at little worries and over
come all friction with ready adaptable
ity. The capabfltty is the result OBJ
served in the maturity Of all intelligent
domestic women.