Women-wise and Otherwise

Mrs. Randolph Guggenheimer, Editor

Summer is once more upon us. To those who have spent the last few weeks tearing their homes apart, and sitting on furniture covers, newspapers, and moth balls, that may seem like a rather trite observation. However, what I meant to observe is that a great many of us will be moving to the country in a week or so for a much needed vacation. For three or four months there will be no care-worn ladies beseeching exhausted friends to give something, "anything at all, dear," to such-and-such worthwhile charity. For those of us who have been approached or approaching all winter this is, of course, something to breathe delighted thanks about. At the risk of being furiously attacked, I should like to state that this cessation of activity seems like a shame.

Federation, although it tries to limit its appeal to one drive, has found that in order to keep going it must circumvent its policy by giving teas, dances, etc., at various times during the winter. There are a great many vacation resorts quite packed with people who find that eight holes of golf or one set of tennis is quite enough for a hot July day, and who would have plenty of time to devote to money raising affairs over the summer.

FOR SWEET CHARITY

There is never enough money to do everything that the charities would like to do. Yet there is very little effort made to continue the good work into the warmer months, when I for one feel mellow enough to smile kindly even at my charitably inclined friends. Westchester manages to have a few, a very few-fashion shows, bridges, or fairs, but the Jersey coast, which is full of well-meaning people, has been left singularly untroubled, except for the persistence of a few local charitable organizations.

I do feel that a little more work in the summer would not at all lessen the contributions in the Fall. Most people are quite willing to give extra small sums, if only someone will take the trouble to remind them. And a summer dance seems to attract almost all of the colonists, no matter what the price of admission.

Of course, we are all pretty well dunned during the winter, and it may not seem fair to continue at the risk of irritating people. If that is the objection to actual collecting, still it cannot possibly be offered as an excuse against teas, bridges, fashion shows and dances. What about the dramatically inclined? Amateur plays at country clubs have never failed to be enthusiastically greeted. There are more than enough women who would be thoroughly delighted to use their leisure time in planning various affairs.

Not that I mean to blight anyone’s peaceful vacation! The whole idea occurred as the result of some conversation about Federation’s Fall campaign, which took place while the moving men were breaking up my furniture, a combination of circumstances which cannot help but make one realize that summer is upon us.