Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 292, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1914 — Of Interest to Women [ARTICLE]

Of Interest to Women

♦.+ + The Girl Who Boards—Start with the Selection of a Place of Good Repute—Arrange Your Room Simply and Make It Your "Home.*

Before a girl can join the army of those who board she must choose a boarding-place. And this step is by no means so simple as it might seem to the inexperienced, especially if the girl leaving home goes alone to a gtrangc city. It is most essential to safety and happiness that the boarding house selected be recommended by some responsible character of the place. Make up your mind that there will always be drawbacks. If the tahle is satisfactory, there may be economy in towels. If the furnishing of your roonj pleases you, do not be surprised at the occasional scarcity of hot water. After you have learned to accept the law of compensation, the comfortable habit of overlooking unessentials will develop. What sort of room is best? A sunny room, by all means, with at least ode window, to insure fresh ''air and thorough ventilation. Avoid a' skylight room, no matter how attractive its price. * Your room is now your home, however little leisure you may have to spend in it Make this abiding-place as cheerful as ingenuity and purse will allow, but do not have a “fussy” room, besprinkled with photographs and gimcraeks. It is neither restful nor hygienic. By keeping two pairs of overshoes, one at home, another at school or office, many a hard cold or more serious Illness is prevented. Warm, dry foot-wear and skirts form a most important part of your hygienic equipment. After the day’s work you will find It refreshing to change your gown for dinner, or you can at least put on a fresh waist. The change of dress will help to give a new direction to workaday thoughts, leading you far from the land of moods. It will not take long to discover, after leaving home, that the indulgence in sulks — if this happens to be one of your faults —is not accepted happily by strangers. No matter what your unfortunate habit at' home, you must show a pleasant face to the world If you would make and keep friends. If you have not already observed the importance of including in conversation every member of your small group, then'take note of the tactless one, who addresses one or two, ignoring the others, who look in vain for an expression of recognition. Many a girl, if she hut knew, owes her unpopularity to just such an unpleasant habit.

There is another “little thing” that will help to make or mar your success as a boarder, and that Is care in letting the waitress know when you are going to dine out, and on the other hand, In giving her ample forewarning of a coming guest. It is a rare occurrence to find a servant who does not appreciate consideration for her special trials. Perhaps the chief pitfall of the girl who boards is the intimate friend. Do not give your confidences to a new and untried acquaintance. Regret for such indiseretlon will surely overtake you. You cannot expect a stranger to keep the secret that you could not guard yourself. “But,” you declare, “I grow so lonely at times.” Then try some other means of cultivating cheerfulness than that of rattling about your personal affairs to a stranger. A brisk walk, an Interesting book, a new magazine, a bit of fascinating fancy-work—each holds many possibilities of distraction from the day’s routine. A busy girl has no time to be lonely. But do not grow so busy that you forget to go to bed in good season. “Beauty sleep” is not an empty phrase. To make a short summary for the “girl who hoards” —let her keep her feet dry and warm, eat meals regularly, avoid Intimate friends, and observe early bed hours.