The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-05
NOW
Summer Plans
And Battles
WHERE TO GO?

WHERE TO GO?
BY HELEN ESSARY
"What are you doing this
summer"
Friends began asking us this
at dinner and between cocktails
way back in March. Was 1t
time to begin worrying about
that already, we thought. We
had just recovered from Christ
mas.
Anyhow, why was it necessary
to do something this summer?
Or any summer? Winters were
enough to fatigue percheron.
It would be nice to sit quietly
at home. Pick out the best
chair-the one guests always
like. And sit and sit. And listen
to the clock tick. Maybe sleep
in the afternoon. Sort of catch
UP with ourselves.
Over a month ago the family
began asking-what are we 60
ing to do this summer. Other
people have made up their
minds, the family said. We
ought to. Ought is wicked
word for a season that should
be lazy and peacefully
Betty LOUIS mother had taken
o cottage in the mountains, it
seemed. Bills aunt had invited
him to oregon. The Smiths
were going to Europe. Why
couldn't we talk things over like
families do in magazines? And
then have a happy summer to-
gether?
Last night we did talk things
over. We had a family confer
ence. In wicker chairs and
porch swings. Had it with great
difficulty between sudden feed
ings of the dog and cat, and
telephone calls, from dates and
offices. And requests for pipe
cleaners and matches. But we
had the conference.
Peggy began by saying she
would like to go to Nevada.
Mary had asked her lots Of
times to come to the ranch.
They had such darling horses.
And after that. she certainly
hoped we hadn't forgotten our
promise to take her to SWitzer-
land to school. Of course, if
there was time, it would be fun
to 60 back to the cottage at Re-
hoboth Beach for a while. There
were lots of cute girls and boys
she would like to ask down.
A fairly simple program, said
the Head of the House, and re-
filled his pipe.
Elaine said that was all right
for Peggy. But what about her?
Peggy said camp would be nice
for Elaine.
Camp, indeed, said Elaine.
She had been going to camp for
years and years. This summer
she wanted to go to the noun
tains. She liked the cottage we
had once at Skyland. She
wanted to go back there.
Only this time, she'd like to
take, oh, dozens of guests. Anne
and Margaret and Sarah and,
of course, the dog and the cat.
She wished she had a pony to
take.
Phyllis interrupted with the
thought that families lived in
reasonable happiness together
in the winter. Why not separate
for the summer? Sally john
son, who went to Sweet Brian,
had been writing her to come
out to New Mexico. Summer in
that beautiful desert country
was warm but heavenly. You
lived in Indian villages and
bathed in crater holes. (Not an
appealing arrangement to u.s.
OF course, if she didn't go to
New Mexico, Phyllis said she
might go to Maine with Mary.
Mary's people had cottage on
the ocean. She'd adore that.
There's still the Fiji Islands
left, said the Head of the Fam
lily. Why not go there? Seri-
ously, we said, we were about to
feel hurt. We hadn't expected
the family to want to fly from
each other as fast as the man
shot out of the circus cannon.
OF course, the family had no
such idea, the Head of the Fam
lily said. He would like nothing
better than a family summer.
The only difficulty from his
point of view was that his plans
were uncertain.
He had to go to Virginia part
of July. If the President went
to California, he'd probably trail
along, too. And have look at
the Middle West. He might be
in Baltimore for two or three
weeks in August. But outside of
that, if we, personally, wanted
the cottage at Rehoboth, as we
had said we did, his advice
would be to go ahead and have
it.
Excuse her, said Lula Wash
ington, who at this point came
out on the porch. But she just
thought she'd better say that if