Make Your Home Life Worthwhile

Manawatu Times, Volume 62, Issue 123, 26 May 1937, Page 14

Make Your Home Life Worthwhile

Loyalty in the Home. Few qualities are more valued in men and women than a strong sense of loyalty. Yet many a parent acts in such a way during the early years of her children as deliberately to discourage its growth. When some fault has been committed and the mother is anxious to detect the culprit, it is a temptation to force one child to expose the other. She will even at times go to the length of inflicting punishment when an effort is made to evade her questions. Feeling aggrieved unless she is able to make an unfortunate little person turn “informer,” she does not stop to think of the mental suffering caused by her attitude. This method of dealing with family misdemeanours should be carefully avoided by all parents who want to bring up really loyal sons and daughters. Loyalty is a virtue which the average public school encourages almost to a fault. But it is an excellent fault, and even when carried to what may be regarded as excess, it is part of the make-up of lovable men and women.

All children are born copyists—they usually grow out of this in,their teens—so it is important that they should develop in a home where they arc accus- ■ tomed to regard loyalty as the keynote ; of everyday life. If father and mother * are not loyal to each other, if nurse is not loyal to mistress and mistress to ( nurse, the bad example will be set and ( followed. This should be remembered for example is worth a great deal more than precept here, as in other matters. I Historic tales of loyalty make good . reading for the young, who, curiously ! enough, do not seem to resent the implied lesson, as they often do when it is presented in what are called “moral tales.” It is, in a sense, a proof of the innate desire to be loyal, when young • people dwell on stories of gallant loyalty ■ displayed towards causes and fellow creatures. In a world of changing moral values, that of loyalty continues unchanged. If You Want to Stay Young . . . Mix with young people, particularly the very young. Play their games, talk ( to them on the topics of the day, go for

walks with them. There’s none lik# the young to keep you young. Have plenty of sleep, drink plenty of cold water, avoid heavy meals. The older you get, the more care the system needs. Be thoroughly up-to-date in literature, music and art. Read and see all you can of modem progress. Keep up with modem thought, otherwise you will quickly become a back number and old before your time. There is no need to become wildly enthusiastic about modernity, but you must have knowledge of it and be able to discuss it. Take care of your hair and your feet. Young people usually have nice hair and strong feet, so if you wish to remain young you must keep the two extremities youthful. Believe in romance and the power of good over evil. Avoid cynicism and the inclination to sneer at things most young people hold dear. Once you start being a cynic you add ten years to the age you would like to be. Don’t give up dancing, although you can miss a dance once in a while if you tire readily. Everyone should keep up-to-date with the new steps in order to share in the joy of life which comes from rhythm. Just Round the Corner there is . . Success for those who, in spite of repeated failure, have the courage to keep on, never losing heart. Friendship for those who have taken the trouble to learn to give of their best ungrudgingly, to close the eyes to faults, and to be loyal in all circumstances. Comfort for those who remember the law of compensation. Fun for those who can throw off the weight of worry at will and plunge into the lighter side of life. Interest for those who refuse to regard the small things of life as unimportant. Leisure for those who plan their work wisely and with method. Beauty for those with eye and ear for nature and the great out-of-doors. Health for those who can laugh, exercise, sleep, eat, drink and play in moderation; but worry, fret and grumble not at all. Happiness for all who arc prepared to meet it. When Friends Are 111. So many people are subject to illness at this time of the year that some professional advice given by a trained nurse to those who visit the sick may prove valuable. She has very strong ideas on how invalids should be treated by their visitors, who often, she declares, forget that sick friends are entirely at their mercy on such occasions. She prefers her patients to have two visitors rather than one. Then, if the patient tires of talking, the two can chat together and the invalid is interested without being fatigued by an effort to keep up the conversation. She advises “best” clothes for those who visit invalids. “Pretty clothes and a cheerful face make quite a good tonic,” she says. Though flowers, books and fruit are always welcome, an unexpected dainty, in the shape of a jelly, cake or other delicacy, if allowed, is a real treat to one who is weary of invalid cookery and of the family or hospital recipes. An unexpected special dish will sometimes do a great deal towards restoring a lost appetite. Find out what your sick friend will appreciate most. A new book may appeal to one, whilst another would much prefer a bottle of lavender water. One invalid of my acquaintance was overjoyed some months ago to receive a sheaf o; mixed twigs all breaking into leaf. As she recognised and named each on £ they brought the vision of open spac** into her quiet bedroom. Collars and Bows. When washing organdie collars an£ bows, add a little vinegar to the water to freshen up the colours.