Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-25
ILife'sProblems
Are Discussed
BY MRS. WILSON WOODROW


MY Dear Mrs. Woodrow: There
isn't a single soul 1 know of whom
can ask advice, so may / take the
liberty of asking you? By the paper
and the type you will probably guess
that l am in an Office, and you will
Immediately tell me that should try
to work up to be a secretary, etc.
Well, l am a secretary.
But that is neither here nor
there. What l want to ask you
about is this: What is one to do with
lot of surplus energy? I am nine
teen, young and full of life. Ever
since l was a child l have wanted to
do things; nothing in particular, but
just something exciting and adven-
turous. That is why l used my
energy in such a way at high school
that l was almost expelled several
times. And now 1 don't know what
to do. 1 am always waiting for ad-
ventures to come-and they don't.
Being young, love to dance, and
1 don't know any young men to go
to dances with. I have been living
in New York a long time, and the,
average young men that 1 meet at
parties and dances bore me to death.
Il wish 1 were a boy, then I'd en-
list. That is one adventure. Or
would travel from one country to
another until l saw the world. Won't
you please tell me what to do.
want something exciting"
It's delightful to get a letter of
this kind. It's like a fresh breeze
blowing through the pine woods, and
it is typical of others I've been re-
ceivipg lately 1t looks as If now,
when so many of the barbed-wire
fences that have stood between
woman and opportunity are down.
that girls feel more than they have
ever done the call to more varied
and various occupations.
What is one to do with lot of
surplus energy?" Use it, my dear;
eXpend it. Don't try to bottle it up.
| Anyway, there is no such thing as
surplus energy" You probably
mean that you have more vitality,
! more will, more imagination and
brains, than most people with whom
! you come in contact. The gods have
been good to you. And as for adven-
lures, there may be little lull in
them just now; but | don't believe
you could turn them from the door.
who, If the sea were calm, would
rock the boat to make the waves.
Adventures are to the adventurous.
Your little plant is humorously
pathetic. And now 1 don't know
what to do
The cry of your soul is for action.
From a child you have longed to do
things exciting and mischievous; and
no doubt everyone about you at
home and at school did his or her
best to repress and discourage and
uproot that tendency. 1t is the
popular idea of education-to put
individuals into the academic mill
and turn out nonentities.
But how can I, not knowing your
qualifications, give you any advice
that amounts to row of pins?
However, l can and do encourage
you.
a farmerette? You might join the
Woman's Land Army. That is the
great adventure for girls just now
They are taking it up eagerly.
1t has different branches over the
cou.-try, and is organizing more. I'll
sends out units of women wherever
they are required. When these units
are composed of those who have had
no previous experience, they are un-
der the charge of leader who has
had agricultural training and who
instructs them in their tasks.
The Land Army will not accept the
services of any girl under eighteen
years, and she must sign for three
weeks. The wages paid are fifteen
dollars month, with living expenses,
and wooden shirts and overalls are
provided If desired.
Most of the work done by these
women on the farms is of the
lighter sort, but some especially
strong girls are doing all the work
usually allotted to men and are en-
thusiastic over it,
The number of successful wome en-
farmers is increasing every day
They show something of a tendency
to specialize. For instance, one
woman has prospered with a goat
farm, and another has a fiourishing
five thousand acre hog farm, her
Poland China hogs taking one prize
after another.
There is an adventure for your
summers vacation. Maud Mullersl
are very up-to- date, and who knows,
the Judge" may again ride slowly
down the lane, land draw his bride
in the shade of the apple trees to
greet the maid" l hope he will: it
would add romantic zest to the
hay-raking.
But whether you go on the land or
not, it's foolish for one of your tenn
perament to keep pottering on at an
uncongenial occupation.
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