BEHIND THE SCENES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 4 (Supplement)

BEHIND THE SCENES.

BT VTVTSN.. Fienicii and the hot weather, clotheß and shopping, the summer holidays and the Christmas festivities—these are just now the main topics of interest in almost every household, as they are every year at this particular season. Men are getting out their fishing tackle, planning launch trips and yachting cruises, making lists of provisions and laying in stocks of supplies. Young people are dreaming golden dreams of a gay vacation, in which tennis and bathing, boating and dancing and moonlight walks usually figure prominently. Children are bubbling with excitement over a projected seaside holiday, or discussing deep-laid schemes for long excursions and delightful picnics. Always the method of procedure is much the samo as on previous occasions, always tho various plans develop automatically along tho same or similar lines, and always vacation schemes are finally carried into effect in the same apparently ea«y fashion, and by the same simple yet mysterious agency. And only occasionally is someone moved to nsk the small boy's eternal question, " What makes the irheeis go round?" Only occasionally does someone pause to consider who it '» that is working silently, steadily, energetically behind the scenes before the curtain goes up and while the play is being MiactecC

For somewhere behind all this "bustle and excitement, Eomewhere behind all these jolly plans and delightful schemes thera are busy hands and tireless fee* and a quick, resourceful brain, and in nine cases out of ten it Is the mother of tho home to whom they belong. She ft is who usually supplies the motive power, the fore* that drives the engine s she it is who keeps the- domestic machinery oiled and the wheels running smoothly. The frocks that owing to the dressmaker's carelessness need "just a little alteration, mother," the packina thai has boon left till the last minute by a son or dnufjhter about to leave by boat or train : the hunting out of holiday paraphernalia which the family declared could not he found : the rooking and preparing and sandwich cutting for the children's picnic • the plans and arrttnirements to be made in .-onneeticn with the seaside camp or 'bach''— these am onT%- senip of the many thankless jobs which Invariably fall to her lot. which are so seldom acknowledged or ar>preciatetf, but on which tho happiness of ihe familv and the success of the scheme Co ofteti depend. Even the holiday itself, which for tho children means undiluted Joy and to the rest of the familv lone restful davß and happy excursions, to her spells only ceaseless activity of mind and bodv.

And vet how little, how very little con6iderstion is usually shown her! Am ; d all •the talk of strftes and unfairness and injustice, arrrtd all the rtetty irHovancos and protests voiced bv labour and • habitual malcontents, amid all tbfl aggressive demands made bv men who consider themselves underpaid and overworked, and ffnm»st : cs want .h l *"h wapes aod nothing to dr>—amid all this the mother* of New Zealand, the most flasrawtlv " under-raid and over-worked " people in tho whole community, merely smile and hrace their nhoulders and "0 quietlv, uneomolainincrlv on. No one ever things of rewards or returns due to th<"Ti for \hf'-r set vices; no one ever mn«iders bow little mnnev many of them have to Friend on thpm.s°lvps and their own nerconal pleasures or want*; no one .pvpt drpriTis; of a>-r,TnrrJp£j for them to have "dnvs o*f" o- a holiday that is nl*o a complete rest nv.A chancre. All over the Country e vrpmer enrr.ns for vonne oeoole, or?an ; Kpd on the American principle for educat : onal. rebV'ouS or purelv h«aHhpromoting nurposes. are now everv vea.r bv various organisations, and are hi"Mv successful. But. as an lian nrmer points out none of them has yet conceived the. idea of oreaniein? rest camps fnr v>o. of nil nenple, need them most. A quiet, secluded peaceful spot Cut off from all ord'rinrv- means of rnrrmnnication. n ca r den bv the sea where thev could idle and dream the dav* awav, a haven of rest where for a brief period co"ld forjret the very existence of husbsTid. home and children—surelv this w?>re an ideal worthy of aoHevemeni bv some of our women's organisations on behalf of t,"-ed. over worked, harassed mothers and home-stale housewives.