The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-07-09
The Thursdays Half Holiday
sy MRS. ,. B. REID

The weekly half holiday for the busi- ness world of the city is a universal bene- fit Especially is this true applied to the women and girls who work through the heated hours of the summer time. This has been an event which has been agitated for several years; the merchants, with very few exceptions, have always been willing to grant this time for rest or recre- ation among their employees, but the peo- pie had to be educated to adopt themselves to the custom. Shoppers at best are a bit cratic; they want their needs filled now" and are a bit annoyed if by chance their plans had been disarranged. There has been public sentiment created among buyers to subject themselves to the con venience of others, to get in line with the times, and render service to the public; hence it has been made possible for the merchants to cheerfuly give valuable recreation to their co-workers without financial loss to themselves or dis turbing their schedule of business.
 There are greater reasons for the need of half holiday than the shoppers have ever realized, and we feel sure that they will all help to make Thursday happy day for toiers. and the rest of the week more profitable for the merchants, with a word of thanks to the firms for their con- sideration.
 Noteworthy in rendering this public ser vice they were compelled to have unity in the holiday spirit. or it would have meant financial loss to many. As this co-opera- tion is very general they can only ask the ladies to hold over their lists to be filled the following day and make Thursday the unanimous play day for Birmingham.
 The world grows bigger by such com munity spirit; it Is almost a feeling that we are our neighbours keeper, and his health or happiness is our charge.
 We casually asked young woman at the counter how she spent her Thursday afternoons, and she said, "Oh, to help mama; she is sick and I spend the after noon entirely in making her comfortable for the next week. You see a sick room gets tumbled up so quickly, and if it is not made more cheerful and changed around every week the patient really has a monotonous home; and this holiday is real Godsend to our home. see enough people every day; I need to see and know my folks on Thursdays"
 Can you think of any greater reward for having waited to buy a pair of silk hose or spool of thread for one -12 hours?
 We were so pleased with this girls re- port of herself we decided to ask further, so the next question propounded to a new girl in another store told another story true to life: T get my rags together and patch and press and wash and iron. I used to do this on Sunday, and I felt like was getting mighty close to old Harry but I went to Sunday school last week, and let the preacher know my spirit was willing.
 This half day is real joy to all of us mighty few of the girls know do other than go home and relax in home duties We have gotten out of the habit of frol- ickng, except on Sunday afternoons, ride, until we just want that day at home, and are grateful for it. It's up to you women now to help make it to the best in- terest Of our employVrs, and you can only continue this day by strictly keeping to the rule-buy everything the day before or the day after Thursday, and let that day be "woman's day in Birmingham
 The spirit of taking fresh start for Friday" the favorite bargain day, Is pervading the atmosphere of shoppers. They are learning the secret of better service after rest, and the gain by wait ing and watching the lad columns
 Right here it seems apropos to speak of how women read the advertisements; how they spend hours looking for things they read hurriedly, glancing over the paper for things to be found in some shop-not positive where or when. Think of the confusion the loss of time, the annoy ance and extra work 1t creates. Adver- tisements carry a direct message to you just as much as if So and So & Co. had sent special messenger to your door pushed the bell button and said to the home maker, T have this and that at my place of business of this quality and that price, and the certain hour
 If such . messenger were to come you you'd be impressed with the importance