Omaha daily bee., 1919-06-29
On Taking a Vacation.

On Taking Vacation.
The conventional vacation periot
Is here, conventional because of the
heat, and because in most occupa.
tons 1t is the time of least stress ant
therefore, following supposedly 6
strenuous winter, is the logical tern
for relaxation. Everyone is justified
in claiming a rest or vacation, men
women and children. 1t moots little
what their occupation is, or whether
they have one or not; they need q
rest from their customary duties tc
save them from growing stale, O,
suffering from boredom, which may
be the same thing. But when one
REFLECTS on the kind Of vacation many
persons take it almost seems they
totally fail in the object aimed at
Is 1t because most Of us act impul-
sively without reflecting as to our
particular needs? I think we do
with the result that too many vaca-
| tons are failures from every stand
| point. We are too prone to assume
that vacation simply consists In
| going away somewhere when the
time is propitious without regard to
place, diversions, comforts, tempera-
| ture or cost: all very important con-
siderations If you are to have a sue
| cessful vacation in the true interpre-
| tation of the word.
In the hope that by directing at
tention to few Of the considerations
that should be taken into account in
planning a vacation l would like to
offer the following suggestions:
Plan for vacation at least q
month or two in advance, and decide
definitely on the place and kind of
vacation you are going to have An
ticipation is a great pleasure in itself.
Above all don't change your mind
when you decide what you are going
to like, or be influenced by the plans
Of others to consider their plans. II
they have not planned let them fall
in with yours; too many vacations
have ended in disaster through elev-
enth-hour decisions.
Consider well the cost A true
vacation should not involve monetary
worries. If you cannot leave the
city for lack of adequate funds, plan
a vacation at home. 1t can be done
very successfully if thought out in
GA "tiiNS' AslCl Ciy ICIldlliuS dl IIOIIlt
away from customary duties is q
great change in itself for those en-
gagged in business. For the house
wife visit to a friends house in
exchange for a similar courtesy for
a given period with an understanding
that household cares for the visitor
are not expected, would give many
woman change that she sorely
needs. Or the family can plan fish
ing excursions, visits to the parks,
anything that is different from the
usual daily humdrum. Or let mother
plan to be an indifferent house,
keeper for the period of her hus-
bands vacation, and devote herself
entirely to the holiday spirit. Let
husband do wife's work, and wife
make diversions her business. 1t is
a good time for husband and wife to
get acquainted all over again; to
give mother a chance to be attrac-
tive anew to father. There are Won
derful possibilities, fellow citizens, in
this kind of vacation.
If trip is a possibility, it should
be a real change and rest. There
should be no worries. BY rest l do
not suggest idleness or inactivity, but
the doing of things Cor not doing)
that are real pleasure and there
fore a rest. And here is the place
to suggest a plan of action that GER
tainly appeals to many, but which
few have the courage to carry out.
1t is quite human, and therefore not
the exception, to grow impatient
with our surroundings; with work,
fellow workers, wife, husband, chill
dren, parents Under such circum-
stances it is best to be quite frank
about it, and to take your vacation
alone. Continuous association begets
monotony and garbled perspective.
A week or more alone will restore
your perspective, and produce a
proper appreciation of those from
whom you are separated. / doubt
not that innumerable unhappy fami-
lies would find in this plan Of action
their happiness. The desire to be
alone at times does not indicate lack
Of affection, but most often sur
felt of it. A short separation soon
recharges the batteries Of the heart.
And then what a longing to be back
in harness again! and to see the men
at the shop, the wife, the children,
and friends. Finally, wherever you
go, or whatever you plan to do on
your vacation, make up your mind
that you are going to get just the
benefit out of it that you anticipate.
Go and do in holiday spirit. No
matter how differently things turn
out than you imagined, make use Of
them as they are to your benefit. All
cannot be just as we imagine, or as
we would have them. You are away
for a rest and a good time: have it.
For it is inevitable after all that We
only get out of things and life what
we put into them. In other words,
we enjoy according to our capacity
to wish to enjoy.
Birth Statistics.
The United States census bureaus
preliminary report for 1917 shows