The Washington herald., 1912-02-11
Outside Interests for Worker.
By ALICE MASON.

There are other ways besides the needle
that the worker may use up her neyous
strength. I constantly get letts-s from girls
asking me what of their duty 10 their church.
They want 10 be helpful. but feel they have
not the strength
ut Is delicate subject TO handle. No one
can be conscience for another, but It always
seems to me that an all wise providence know
ing the willingness VIII make allowances for
the WEAKNESS. A girl has no, more right 20
exhaust herself on good works than on dis
sipation. II your Sundays are your only day
OF rest do not make them just another day
Of arduous toll.
This does not r1ean cut out all relations
with the church: II does mean not to take
Sunday school or mission classes which 20 be
successful necessarily tax overmuch the
strength Of an already overtaxed girl. No
matter how much your heart Is in your work
your body pays the penalty.
Do not permit yourself to be overpersuaded
nor let another be conscience for YOU. There
is nothing easier than for the outsider to lay
down the law as to your duty. What each
OF my girls need is to have courage enough 10
live by her own sense Of right and wrong.
= =
One does not want to be an office drudge,
but too much outside distraction may be al
cost Of vitality. Girls love a good time and
they should take all the fun going provided
Il does not mean being out Of bed night after
night with consequent reaction next day
One pretty librarian IN a bustlinE news
paper once told me she was squandering all
her substance on tonics. My dear child.
l asked, e what has given you the medicine
habit? You should not drug yourself as you
do"
1 have to- she replied. " or I would fan
down on my job I am 50 dead tired every
morning I couldn't get through the day
without a tonic"
Further questioning revealed that the girl
being pretty and popular, was out some
where every night. rarely getting to bed until
long after midnight Sometimes it was the
show two nights week card club,
often q dance. and once week a bowling
club. Delightful. every one. II the girl had
not to be Up early the next day with ten
hours arduous. nerve racking work ahead.
q =
There are many doors OF culture opening
to the girl who works. Night classes cor
respondence colleges. lecture courses. and
splendid libraries for private research The
temptation TO the ambitious girl Is to use
her brain out OF once hours much more than
Is good for her brain or her body. Do not
become a machine, but do not. on the other
hand, read or study far into the night.
An hour or two Of good reading or even
studying each evening is admirable for men
tai growth. but n girl has exscting mental
duties at the ONCE she should not let her
ambition or love for knewlsdge lead her into
extremes Anything Ike eramming or
pushing Of the brain reacts on the nerves
and ones work suffers.
In Weighing the outside interest In relR-
tion to ones work remember that work
comes first. Whatever interferes With II Is
to be eliminated. II you oyertire yourself
In pursuit OF pleasure or learning or doing
good you are unjust to your employer and
lessening your chances OF success.
The girl In the once need not feel herseh
At FOR nothing but drudgery: she should have
outside interests, but she must take them
moderately Lack OF moderation has lost
more positions than inefhcisney. 1t Is more
often what sirl does outside once hours
that breaks her down than the work she does
for her employer.