The Washington herald., 1909-07-19
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

OF all the senseiess fads the 'Jigsaw
puzzle" easily leads. and in the face OF
that statement I openly confess to
fondness for games OF ell kinds. They re-
lleve the strain OF the days work and
allow one 70 accumulate strength tor the
morrow. But when they are carried 10
the point OF crowdlng out duties and max
ing man or woman oblivious to ohhga-
tions. they are a menace and should be
frowned upon as are other dangers
That the doom OF the puzzle has already
been sounded IS not much of a surprise TO
those who are familiar with the havoc
It has worked with nerves and temper
! It is unfortunate that anybody should
be kept at employment that is distaSteful
lr wearing upon the nerves, but every
'ody must live, and cOngenial work is not
always easy TO find. But there is no doubt
hat host Of women actually choose dis
tressing conditions. They work and live
in noisy places when they might have
peace and quiet. There is nothing but
our own will to drive us TO morbid plays
when we might be laughing at funny
ones OF when we would be better off az
home with a few friends or in bed by
ourselves. It is our choice 70 remain In
hot. stuffy rooms holding bits OF paste
board and worrying our brains over the
intricacies OF game when we might be
breathing the sweet air OF a summer
night from the depths OF a comfortable
veranda chair. 1t is choice which drives
US to a round OF visits when there is solid
81
The average mother Is made TO believe
i that It is healthy for children 10 be noisy.
so youngsters scream at the top Of their
q lungs and make hideous noises. all Of
+ which is supposed to add to the welfare
o. youth. But what about grown-ups?
Their health Is OF some importance, and
as life grows no easier with age. II is
their duty 20 look after themselves In all
ways. SO we have the prejudice against
children in apartment houses. When the
brain OF a mother cannot stand the stren-
ucsity Of her own children. how can one
expect II OF strangers? a man who has
sold his home In a suburb Is regretting
| HE act, he told me, because 10 Is so hard
to find des'Cable homes when there are
three noisy children in the family
He does not resent the attitude OF quiet
families In the least. although he does not
mind noise. He realizes that everybody
cannot stand the noise OF boiler factory
or would care 20 live near a freight yard
There is a multitude Of noises to which
our ancestors were strangers and they
offer a reasonable excuse for troublesome
nerves. If they cannot be avoided, they
! must be endured but they add 70 this
strain by the pursuit OF harmful amuse-
Anents. There are plenty OF sensible pleas
res which are restful. but the jgsaw
lzzle. pingpong. and diabolo are not
nong them Golf. which has come 10 be
lOwn as the poor mans game-though
0Odness knows why - cannot be sur
basscd for dissipating the cobwebs Of the
brain
Rowing T. excellent, even though II
has been driven to obscurity by power
boats. which are among the sources Of
disagreeable noises because they are not
properly mufled Driving. which Is rest
ful, has ceased 20 be popular because of
the automobile. which can be exceedingly
nerve-racking. Women. as a rule, talk
too much for their own welfare. They
waste nerve force by their habit of idle
chatter, only the occasional one having
any desire for the rest which comes by
being alone. II is the TesourCeful woman
who can bear loneliness FOR few hours,
the woman who likes 20 write and read
and sew, who is addicted 10 maps and al
WAYS can ind means 70 while away the
hours. ! am sorry for those who have 20
be amused every minute. they have so
many miserable hours, FOR company is
not always available
RE-TTY RRAnFEN