The Washington herald., 1909-06-06


question should be addressed to The
Arbiter, care The Washington Herald
Il have 3ust graduated from college" ."
writes a young woman. tell me. oh, wise
one. what shall do with my summer
The Arbiter appreciates the compliment.
but what a sweet girl graduate shall do
with her summer depends entirely upon
the conditions of her life. and 1t is difficult
TO advise without knowing them; but it
is never difficult to generalize. After four
years Of college, If she has done her work
thoroughly and conscientiously, a woman
is tired. so. in the first summer when she
feels free, when she konws that the fall
will not send her pegging away at her
books again, she should rest and play as
much as she legitimately can. Now
Rest Is not quitting this earthly career;
Rest IS but fitting ones self 10 ones sphere.
In a word. rest is rot lethargy, rest Is
not living as the dormouse does in win
ter. The most perfect rest IS 20 do some
thing different from your work that is
agreeable and pleasant. 1 once met a
girl Of my acquaintance walking madly
along country road. Her cheeks were
red from the exercise, her eyes bright,
and she in a very disheveled condition
why are you tearing along so wildly?'
I asked. rs some one M Are you go
ing for the dOctOr?"
No" she replied; I'm resting"
And she was resting. for all winter long
she was forced to sit eight hours a day
in a stuffy office and beat living out on
- cfaa
for her vacation TO an old farm house in
a beautiful country she was the widest
creature on the place. She rode and
drove. she walked and ran, she weeded
the garden and sometimes picked the
Vegetables. and she had delicious rest, 2"
a rest she could not have possibly en-
ioyed had she gone to some summer hotel
and sat on the porch with q lot OF old
tabbies through the beautiful weeks that
were her very own to do with as she
choose. When she went back 10 her
work again she took It up with such vim
and enthusiasm that II was spring again
before her head began to ache and her
fingers grow almost too heavy 10 strike
the keys.
Eut 20 romp on a country farm would
not rest everybody. II would hardly be
belle OF society whose life all through
the season had been so strenuous II
would put a poor farmers wife 20 shame
This exotic must rest her weary soul
her tired body, her broken spirit in q
different way. Months of self indulgence
have made her cynical and world weary
so she can best rest herself by recovering
her old gods. Lead the simple life. live
close to nature. forget herself and heI
weltsChmertz in remembering others.
great fashionable caravansary, where
the same routine goes on that she has
followed all the winter. is not for th'
society young woman who really wishes
10 regain her health and strength and
faith. II she Is rich, let her seek ou
some quiet, little village IN Europe, live
the simple life Of the peasants. and learI
from them that there are other con
quests than those made in a drawing
room.
know a poor. blase woman wh'
roamed the world seeking relief from her
self and finally settled down in a little
town in Sicily. where she has been eve
since, living among the peasants whom
she soon learned 10 love and whose con
hdence she gained. with never a though
ago
Neither Of these methods OF rest woul'
suit the normal college woman For
time. at least, she Will long 10 do tn
things which have been denied her. Sh
will find Il luxury to stay in bed late
go to bed late. to visit all the theater
within her reach, and 10 embrace ever.
opportunity that offers for a quiet fir
tation. but she will soon tire Of thes
distractions. A person does not lea
a methOdical, Well-OTdered, srudiOUs lif
for four years 10 be able TO give II U
instantly. What one learns at colleg
Is not the main thing. II is the disci
pline one is put through, the acquisition
20 Of self-control, the gaining Of fine re
serve. the broader outlook on life an
no one who has these will be content I
fritter her life away lying in bed, firth
or gadding constantly 70 the theater. TIL
talents she has developed crave 70 b
used. and the brain that has been activ
for four long years refuses 10 renal
Quiescent so the summer rest OF IN
college woman VIII take the form Of som
activity.
II does not matter what she does S
long as il is wholesome and good TheI
is nothing better for wOrnOut bodies an
tired nerves than horseback riding. TheI
is something about the exercise. the syn
pathy between horse and rider and n
wonderful nature about them that sootht
and beguiles. yet stimulates 1t IS bett'
than golf. better than tennis. better ths
the Iadylike crOquet, but IL is not withir
everybodys reach. for II is by no meaI
a cheap sport, for those, however, WI
cannot afford II. there are plenty
agreeable substitutes.
Even in this day Of athletics. the COLES
bred woman is apt to have acquired sc
entary habits. Her study table and I
books piled upon It are more attracti-
than Dame Nature even in her SUNNI
attire. but If the woman, fresh from CT
lege hopes 10 be a factor for good in Z
world, TO be a power and a force, 81
should put her books quite away no
and then and refresh herself, and the
is no better refreshnent for brain wor
ers than by playing out Of doors-n
bridge In big hotel parlor, feverisn brid
from which one rises with hectic color
tired brain, and a very irritable dispo.
ton. Bridge is too much Ike hard woT
and one should never make play in
work The head Of one OF the large
educational institutions for young vTom
In the country used to say to his cir
Now. girls. when you work want v
TO work with all your heart. 70
strength. and your will. Bend eve
energy 20 the task before you, and VIII
you play, play the same way Get
there is 70 get out OF both your wo
and your play. and there will be no que
ton OF your happiness or your usefulne!
To my mind a college woman can d
pose Of her time for the first few mont
after leaving college In no better W
than by learning how 10 keep house.
expression I prefer to domestic scien,