The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1916-07-10

Finds Hobby
Relaxation
Homemaker Needs To Have
An Avocation Just AS
Much As the Tired Busi-
ness Man"-Her Outside
Interest Should Not Per-
tain To Domestic Affairs
In Order To Be Restful.
BY ISOBEL BRANDS.


x sary and desirable to have some
ID sort Of hobby for spare hours.
~ No matter how hard man
works during business hours. 10 his
tiae Oft he usually tries to get a. fAr
svsy from business a. possible. Indeed.
We are told repeatedly by authorities
on the subject Of health that an "avoca-
uon"-an occupation OUTSIDE Of daily
worker who desires to keep In good
health and spirits.
Has the homemaker her avocation7
What does she do In spare hoursf
One OF the most tried. detected house
vas known Hs to " ali her friends N a. va" an
ideal housekseper. Her home was i'm
maculate. likewise her children, she was
2 perfect cook. an excsllent seafnstfsss
Tor her family, an all-around fair expert
the management Of home. And at .
o'clock each afternoon her days work
vas near completion and she sat down
Tor her hour or two of rest.
Merely Intelligent Drudge.
But 30 faithful was she to the duties
o. the household that her spare time"
~ss always devoted to some house task
-mendins, occasionally embroiderins or
scass over accounts. or course, a quiet
hour in the afternoon 10 an excellent
tine for such tasks. but she never In
tereeted herself In any other way. Her
whols mind was c9peentratsd on just
vas q comfortable house for every one
to live in. and as a housekeeper she was
All any one could ask. But she was
doing an Injustice to herself and to her
drudge. and. as q matter Of fact, II was
Ssr more mens. and fV suI Rssa Il nsainsi:
even IN the making Of a smoothly-run
Incidentally. as she recognized that
che was simply a house worker. she
felt more and more the drudsery. and
Lea less Of q the spirit q homskeepins. and
Of her dsushtsrs would have 10 dS "H her
own housework! She made sure Of II
by doing everything. and not teaching
her children any OF the simplest rudi-
rnents OF caring for home.
Should Have Avocation.
This u q typical instance of the wom-
an who. In her extreme conscientious.
ness does not make a Just provision
for her own development. The home
maker who has the best spirit toward
her daily work IL the homamsksr who
regularly. and occupy It with some
other interest. The rest period should
not be spent regularly In doing work
directly pertaining to Homework. The
flushed & she thinks OF something. en-
tirsly different-.if she reads q book or
. story about anything except house,
One Of the mos. interesting home
makers 10 q woman who does all of her
own work, but who has always made a
determined effort to attend each year
sqme, course Of lectures At school OF
-IsxA a. - lueA NAf
optsids Of home. She is not only a more
cheerful, more intelligent personality
but through all the years Of hard work
she has maintained q feeling OF cam.
up-to. date. mentally on most subjects, &c
with her children. They regard her no,
only with the dutiful affection Of thu
child toward the mother who has made
many saerinces for the comfort of hsI
family. but there Is 4 spirit Of spon'
toneous 10Y and interest In that house
hold which Is really the life and spirit
of'the ideal home.
Cultivate New Interest.
n there 10 ever q choice between Dc.
voting time to the maintenance Of i'm
maculate pots and pans, or devotinl
time to the development OF the personal
interests which keep the mother peren
nially companionable with her children
which holds the greater value? Is there
any doubt about taking the interests and
letting the pots and pans go?
It's q serious business Is homemaking
There's no use making a hard drive tc
get work finished early in tho day II the
spare time Is only going to be devoted
to the same kind Of work. Spare tim,
should be invested wisely. The best in
vestnent In in the cultivating OF an avo
cation-a new interest--which will keey
the homemo ker's mind refreshed, and
most, important. retain her hold on tn,
interests which fill the lives of hel
growing children.
(Copyr' ght 1915, Newspaper Feature Service.)