The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-07-11
NEWS OF THE DAY
|NSOC|ETY WORLD
Midsummer Parties for
Brides and Visitors
THE DAYS EVENTS
Mrs. Alexander and a Large Party
Leave for Eastern Tour-Lunch-
cons and Other Entertain
ments for Visitors

The vacation problem is one that con-
fronts almost every family at this season
and its solution, reached with more or less
satisfaction to the individual comprises IN
Birmingham variety of preferences; ter
every day departures are made for divers
points, the Canadian rockies are chosen
by some, with probably as much success as
the Florida coast by others. A young
matron said yesterday that only a few
people really know how to enjoy a holi-
day, and this may he So
A domestic holiday is thing contem-
plated with horror. believe, by the aver
age married man. He looks upon a holt
day as release not only from his work,
his stale surroundings and his family, but
his wife as well. Many, In fact, look
upon the honeymoon as the first and last
domestic holiday. refusing positively in
later years TO be encountered with small
children and farIily luggage, choosing
rather to 90 away alone or with some
male companions. You may see one of
these any day at this season down at the
Terminal or the Louisville and Nashville
station waiting for his train TO be called
He has found fine authority for taking
Doctors tell him that what he needs is
complete change and freedom from all the
domestic things that surround him the rest
of the year. Trying, therefore, to look
as much like an invalid as possible, he
goes off to the station with his golf clubs
and his kit bag Willie his wife and the
children wave good-by to him at the gate
The wife's holiday is. unfortunately, not
always considered with the same single
ness of purpose tow ard her enjoyment Of
it, One rarely sees her go away alone, 50
that she may escape temporarily from
husband and children. And the worst of
ii is, it is usually her own fault that this
is SO. One bears many woman at the
fag end of the sumnaer season complaining
of poor holidays, with no rest, little recrea-
tion and days filed with care for her chill
dren. 1--WE must think of the children"
she says, conscientiously. when plans for
vacation time are mentioned. And, "Yes,
of course we must" the unhappy husband
says gloomily. SO. intead of the golf
links and the tennis court or sailing
boat on the sea, they sit, most likely,
watching the children every day playing
on the sand And this when in most house.
holds the children are rar less in need of
a holiday than the parents, and would
probably be happier if they were shipped
off to stay with a grandmother or an
aunt during the parental absence.
Vacation matters are very well adjusted
here in some instances by the summer
homes in the mountains or on the lake
shore, which are the property of Birming-
ham people, and which are cared for by
excellent servants during the year, SO that
the housekeeping problem when summer
comes is not complex. And there are other
families who spend the summers in some
cool place chosen just for the childrens
health or comfort, to conclude the season
with a fortnight's visit somewhere. en-
ioyed by the elder members of the family
while the youngsters are In charge OF
some kinswoman or trustworthy servant.
There is one family to whom the vaca-
ton time is a period of thorough rest ana
enjoyment, because each member consults
cnly his personal preference in the mat
ter of place to go. The head of the
family takes his pleasure in boating on
the st. Lawrence. the boys, who have less
time to spare. are usually enjoying fish
ing trip somewhere. and the girls and their
mother go to one of the eastern beaches.
Certainly the outing period should be
time of rest from che things that one does
all the time, a real holiday for the whole
family.