Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-09-28
AFTER THE VACATION.
Change From Rest to Work Has Ger
tain Dangers.

From the New York Herald.
When the summer is over, vacation end
ed and the metropolitan citizen is once moro
in his home there is as much a change OF
condition and environment for him as when,
months ago, he determined to break away
and look for the rest and recreation he so
much needed. He is thus in some respects
a creature of new circumstances new aims
and new adaptabilities to the necessities of
his situation. The disconnected man can
easily convince himself that the transition
from idleness to work is a very undesirable
one; that the change from freedom to labor
is a veritable hardship; that close quarters
are very different from open fields, and
stale fruit and vegetables from the fresh
and toothsome products of the garden. 1t
Is the contrast between this simple life
of ease, rest and recreation and the dull
monotony of the daily and irksome task
that must face him for the remainder of the
year.
The main trouble will be to fit himself
properly, safely and happily to his new
vironment. If he fails to do this he is worse
off than If he had stayed at home and had
surrendered his temporary liberty to his
everyday necessities. For the individual
thus situated there are no new tastes. no.
new ambitions and no regrets for present
conditions. But with the other man, who
must needs turn over new leaf, the case
is entirely different Everything regarding
his comfort and health must depend upon
how he starts. Fortunate will he be who
will take to himself as much as he can the
simpler methods of life he has learned while
away-the regular exercise, the long walks.
the early bedtime, the fresh air in and out
o. doors, the plain food and the like, which
have made him thus far the stronger and
more contented man.
The great trouble is that such Is seldom
done The long unoccupied house Is scarce
ly renovated as it should be, the sewer traps
are neglected, the cellars are never inspect
ed, the fues remain FOUL the water tanks
remain uncleaned, the wash bowls are UNI
flushed, and he prepares for the winter un-
der the worst possible sanitary conditions.
and he wonders why such calamity should
aff1ict an innocent househo
His change of habits also has its natural
bad influences. His eagerness for new vi
ands is allowed to tempt his appetite be-
ycnd healthfuI prudence; he overeats with
indigestible food; the neglected bottle
claims It's old place, and the midnight sup
per, with its attendant nightmare. gives
him the full realization of his old self. And
yet with all this he wonders why he does
not remain well and why his vacation has
done him no good. His method has been
to save at one end that he may spend the
more lavishly at the other.
Is 1t not now a time to pause and con-
slider If such doings pay in the long run
and if health, comfort and happiness may
not be secured by the moderate and grad
ual means of adapting ourselves to the
changed conditions that present them
selves? There is certainly enough of stress
and strain ahead to make ii desirable for US
to preserve all the health and strength we
may have been fortunate thus far to gain,
ing and fndiScreet excuses, no matter In
what direction Therefore let US continue
our vacation benefits as long as they can
be possibly made to last.