New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-07-23
SUMMER CRUELTY TO FATHERS.

About fifteen years ago came TO New-York City
q bride from the Far West. where vacations. except
TO school teachers almost unknown My
father had been hard working minister FOR over
fifty years and never had 4 vacation
one or the first things that impressed me In fat
life what you terseIy call summer cruelty
TO fathers" I called the women heartless who left
the men TO shift for themselves for two months
at 4 time; and the wonder to me was that those
who did il most were those who seemed as II they
could least afford it. L seemed TO ME a fad. 1
found New-YorS City uptown. OF course) a fine
summer resort. and. later on. when I had three
little ones. I found 1 better OF in my corner
fat with home comforts than in some stuTy board
ing house. where every cry Of a child is i torture
10 and where dress Is 4 bore. Riverside
Drive had many hooks that sheltered US, and the
eight hundred acres Of Central Park were spacious
enough always 10 afford some restful place. In
the autumn generally went away for a short
trip and change.
The bad results OF summer neglect 10 husbands
can hardly be estimated. Few men have any faculty
OF making home habitIble. and in the simple mat
ter OF airing and making bed they are utterly
obtuse. They may in desperation attempt a little
cooking. ana then there is woe This is because
no reason why boy should not be taught to do
a little simple cooking and make q bed without
being enemlnate. Then men left alone are apt To
get into bad company.
aase 7n s IN PsR IsG t 7o any f9 E62
Tor existence Is so nerce and so many are after
every. opportunity e. on the whole, l am in
cined 10 the view that there is not so much
the mother mas small children she is doing the
father great favor TO take them away during
the hot weather, when they are fretful and
tresome and disturb his sleep and meals and sun
Gay rest II the chLo-en are larger they prob
ably sun more trouble Just when they are get
ting big enough 10 help themselves they are in
Men do not generally suffer for any personal
want 4 man viii pay dollar and a quarter lor
his luncheon while his wife would make n 25-cent
one do The father easily arrange for his home
70 De kept clean ana the ice and gas bills will
probably be as large as when the family are 81
home. The house may seem lonely. but father can
run of Tor trip to Coney Island or up me Hud-
son or 20 roof garden concert with some of his
compassionate friends. His business NAV be tire
some and ronotonOuS. bur he leave y behind
him at night while the wifeS cares are with her
always. $50 days in the year night and dav m
IS much easier to out into the world and earn
living and be looked up as somebody who
does something than 10 bear with patience the
petty domestic cares day after day. year after
year. But I digress.
them. Ny home, NeW-york looks oufre
palatisl after months roughinc II at Marthas
Vineyard. But this Is ideal spot The children
look foot taller and brown as Indians when thew
so home; the father feels that the benefit TO them
IS worth all the sacrifice their absence meant Nv
own tretful nervousness is gone. and I feel as
strong for the coming campaign as the politicians
OF the day.
After ali it all depends on the teu,peram ent OF
the parents whether IL is best 10 20 away or not
Cottage City Mass.