Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 233, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 October 1911 — Joys for the Stay-at-Homes [ARTICLE]

Joys for the Stay-at-Homes

Those who are obliged to be the itay-at-homes tn summer need not line, for there are. Indeed, many tompensations in the way of short rips to the pleasant nearby places Jmt are too often ignored because of heir easy accessibility. Usually it is the father or the nother, or both, who give way to the rounger members of the household ind become stay-at-homes during the reeks of oppressive weather, when hey are the ones who most need the thange and relaxation. Often, too, it Is the older sister, me past her gayest youth, who indite that the mother and younger laughters shall go away while she days to keep house for the father rho cannot leave his business or, >erhaps, cannot afford to go. These elder daughters are usually is-unselfish as the fathers and moth»rs, and these could be no rhore unlelfish people in the world than Amtrlcan parents. She has helped to rush the sewing through, has trimmed hats, mended laces, worked innumerable buttontales, packed trunks, and done a thousand and one things under presrare in order to get the lucky ones iff; and when the house is emptied if most of its occupants, she feels a ironderful relief and freedom 1 for a lew days. .But after that a reaction if loneliness sets in for her and the lather which, if yielded to apathetically, will make the summer seem They think at the beginning of {heir stay-at-Eofhe experience that '.here is nothing to do but let the lays pass by monotonously and untried; but, seeing the father’s wearness, the daughter begins to think ip diversions for him, and he, noticing the attention given to insure his •very home comfort, comes to the ‘.onclusion that there must be some tort of little outing he might give he faithful daughter. He at last realizes that there are idjacent to the city many beautiful luburban towns and stretches of sountry that may be seen and enjoyed lor the price of a trolley fare —lovely groves, too, and even daisy fields. If the father couia come home in 'Arne to have a 5 o'clock dinner, or lupper, they could start at 6 on a irolley ride out into the country and tee the sun set where there is a wide horizon and a sweep of invlg>rati ng air. Or they can go earlier in the afterwon for a quiet trip on the glorious Ake, returning late in the evening feeling that they have a new lease in life. There are in the near suburbs recreation parks of the better sort, patronized by people of good standing, where trolley parties go seeking coolaess and diversion —and here are lights and laughter, music and icy :old refreshments. It is better to ipend an occasional evening at these aearby summer resorts than to mope forlornly in the dim house in the leserted block, for it is always amusing to watch the people. Let the stay-at-homes also make •p their minds to put in their time in teeing the best civic features which ;heir city and suburbs boast—those buildings, statues, monuments, art galleries, libraries, parks, museums, ind those notable town residences ind adjacent villas which they have sever seen, simply because “one can tee them any time, you know.’’ It is imbarrassing, often, to find that vistors know more about your own city .han you do. Better to see and know lomething of our own local shrines aefore going far away to make pilgrimages to those we have no reason to revere.

It is a good time, too, to frequent ±e cool, quiet libraries and study up some special subject for a paper to i>e read during the winter session of >ne’s club. Before the tired bread-winner :omes home on hot evenings have the pavement and yard thoroughly sprinkled with the hose, the windows jp. and the fresh air coming in. The bathroom should be in perfect jrder and readiness, and when he :omes down from his ablutions he should find a daintily spread table, with fresh flowers on it and appeasing repast consisting of dishes which differ as much as possible from those of the rest of the year, and »nding, always, with a frozen dessert ar iced tea or lemonade. Those who stay at home grinding the money mill should surety avail themselves of the cooling little trips to nearby places that give so much more than a nickel’s worth of mental and physical recreation.