Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 February 1909 — Punctuality In Women. [ARTICLE]

Punctuality In Women.

Lack of punctuality is a fault chargeable to many women, and one that costs others much time and considerable impatience. It certainly is exasperating to wait 15 minutes by the clock, and then have the delinquent inquire “Have I kept you waiting?” And mapy moments are thus wasted, generally because we are too much ipcensed to even try to make use of them. But isn’t the conscientiously punctual person a little apt to exaggerate her virtue hnd appear on the scene as much in advance of time as the unpunctual one is behind it? To be 1 five minutes ahead of time is a waste of minutes we cannot charge up to our friend’s dilatoriness, says the Detroit Free Press. It beats everything how long a minute can be when you’re wondering why on earth somebody doesn’t come. If one begins being vexed and impatient too soon, the agony is prolonged. In five minutes, the time set, the friend may be on hand, but one has been perturbed and has a little vexation to overcome. Some people pride themselves on waiting till the very last car and the last minute of train time and then enjoy—or seem to enjoy—a frantic rush to “make It.” If one is traveling with such a oerson there is but one thing to do. Don’t worry. If he or she misses the train or the boat let them take the Consequences. A few disappointments will teach them that the unexpected may happen, that a very little dolay may prove fatal to their plans, and that in all places where one must depend upon a public conveyance a margin of time must be allowed. To the housekeeper, one of the most exasperating of family faults is un punctuality at meals. To wait while food cools and dries in the oven and all things that should be hot get cold, and all that should be cold get lukewarm, Is provoking. Duties are delayed and plans disarranged. But —you can’t help it, therefore be philosophic. Don’t get excited and cross; take a book or your sewing, or lie down and “nap it” —then let the delinquent see the meal as it is. You had it properly cooked at the proper time. Don’t apologize; it’s up to the party of the other part to do that. When you can accept such small trials of your equanimity with patience, the greater trials will not look so large.