The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-18
WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

The woman Of refined instincts will
have nice surroundings II her abiding
place IS only a Tiny room AT the top OF
some tall building. There Will be an in
defnable afr Of cleanliness. order. and
comfort combined. that Will make one
forget TO look for flaws. I have seen a
monotonoUs hotel bedroom converted into
"a real home. ID half an hour, by the deft
fingers Of a woman who had only one
trunk upon which TO draw for both ward
robe and furnishings.
II was at a summer resort an unnre-
tenti0us one. and the hktel was furnished
IN the meagcr fashion common 70 such
places. The woman was a worker IN
search Of rest during her vacation. and
the place was Ideally located for her pur-
pose. There were no screens in the two
windows and cheap adjustable ones were
carried In the bottom Of her trunk. as
was burglar chain, which. when adjust
ed allowed her 70 have fresh air dav and
night without fear OF intruders There
was a Chiutz cover for her narrow bed
one with "a FIRM and pillowcases 10 match
and an italian silk blanket for day use, OF
an extra cover on chilly night
i few pictures, head-rest OF two. q
table cover, and bureau scarf. few toilet
articles for both bureau and commode.
and books, so changed the COON that it
did not look as If II belonged 20 the rest
Of the house. The occupant simply fol-
lowed her home-making instinct there as
she would anywhere else using whatever
materials were NJ hand. Actresses often
do the same thing, as home 10 them IS
Just where night overtakes them, and
last year I saw n summer cottage after
1t had been touched up by a woman Of
good taste. She made few additions. but
they were telling ones.
I presume that this instinct is a gift
like style. but as style is admirably imi-
tated, why cannot the home-making in
stinct follow its example. I occasionally
meet q woman who is the best possible
example Of what perseverance will do. She
was OF the ordinary type, plain Of face.
Indifferent in figure, and rather dowdy in
dress, I should say and in ten years she
blossOmed into gorgeous creature with
a reputation for shape and taste in dress.
know nothing Of the process by which
she made the change. but I see the re-
suits, quite enough for me. The woman is
far from young, but she Is athletic and
thoroughly up to date, and has the neck.
shoulders. and arms of a debutante. She
grows a bit younger each year, and seems
TO be able TO defy Illness. The woman
must have planned and worked unceas-
ingly 10 accomplish her ends. but she sue
ceeded, and that is tho main point. and
her homo Is a reflection Of her personality
it is ideal. and she earns the money that
supports it.
I heard n married man declare the other
night that if women put the time they
spent in useless fancy work into comfort
able living every member of the fam
ily would be the gamer. The statement
was called forth by the sight Of two
women who are spending their spare time
at the seashore In making pOTtieres Of
seaweed and beads. The work Is slow and
deprives them Of any other pastime, for
pastime It Is to them, although they need
the health-giving benefits Of bathing.
walking, and boating.
Well, portieres Of that description are
not purchasable. Of course but there are
Others to satisfy taste and comfort, and
there are too many pleasures in this life
to waste unnecessary time in tasks. A
wage-earner was overheard 10 remark
that the one thing she envied was the
possession Of time to embroider un0ser-
clothing. Think of IT, A Woodworking
capable woman wanted leisure for a
.senseless occupation like that. II merely
shows that the best of us have queer
SfreakS pETTv DID