South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-04
SOME WOMEN ARE
IDLE THOUGH BUSY
Hurry is Not Always Work,
Says One Who Defines Wom-
ans Sphere as Doing Best
of Which She is Capable"

Il certainly have a full day tomor-
row." said the Fireside Woman, work.
ing fast and furiously on bit Of fancy
work She was doing. Il have a date
at the dressmaker's in the morning, a
bridge party and tea in the afternoon.
and our card club meets here in the
evening. This is one OF the prizes"
holding up a piece of needlewOrk she
was doing. Il must get this done
som eway or other"
You do seem rushed" observed the
Forward-lOoking Woman. "Neverthe-
less, l should call you an idle indi-
vidual."
Idle" exclaimed the Fireside
Woman. 81 don't believe there is a
woman in this block does more than
l do"
"That may be. But you know Soc
rates definition OF idleness, don't
you ?"
''Nro I don't" retorted the Fireside
Woman in a tone that implied she
thought Socrates knew very little upon
the subject But if he were here to-
morrow and treked after me. | think
he might learn something about the
reverse of idleness, and perhaps amend
his definition"
81 don't think he would change it,"
said the Forward looking Woman. Il
think perhaps he would only italicize
it."
What is his definition of idleness?"
asked the Fireside Woman. IF he
thinks l am idle, he doesn't know what
hustle is"
Hustle Not Work.
"Hustle-yes, that may be true. But
hustle is not always work. AS to
idleness. he says, Not only is he idle
who does nothing, but he is idle who
might be better employed l think
that. according to Socrates, you are a
very idle person"
Huh" retorted the Fireside Wom-
an. 81 suppose you think l am idle
because l play cards. But one must
have some amusement ] suppose
Socrates played - er = quoiits - or
something once in a while"
"Once in while, yes But ii strikes
me YOU do il several times in a while.
Now honestly, taking your days as a
whole, day in and day out, couldn't you
be better employed than you are?"
Il suppose ! might go around and
do some sort of charitable work.
carry baskets to poor families, or
something like that" admitted the
Fireside Woman. But there are lots
of people who don't care for cards,
poor things; and they ought to have
. something to do. So let them do
that, l say"
Help With Big Things.
THAT sort Of gain might be a gain
for YOU" said the Forward looking
Woman, though l think ii doubtful.
don't believe that spasmodic work.
that only relieves surface ills, is of
much account. l believe in helping
with the big things that lift the whole
mass. Were Socrates definition of
idleness generally applied L guess
there would be lots Of idleness found
the world over, among very busy peo-
pie This definition of idleness-that
one is idle if he can be better employ
ed-reminds me Of the one of woman's
sphere-that it is doing the best of
which she is capable. Both are indt-
vidual matters. And when the best
of you. and the most of your time. go
20 the very best of which you are ca
pable, bridge or quoits, or whatever
you wish to do fer relaxation is not
idleness, and what's more, my dear,
you'll ENJOY your bridge. or your
quoits a lot more than you do now.
Bridge does get TO be an awful
bore" admitted the F'ireside Woman.
Get busy about something real,
advised the Forward-lOoking Woman,
! and then you will once more have a
keen appetite for bridge"