ressed by the
side of her husband in quest of that very necessary intellectual
culture and social diversion.

The wife of a prominent judge, in my office just this week, said to me
that she believed that most of our social and domestic uneasiness was
due to the fact that fathers and mothers and children went out
together so seldom. The father goes to his club, the children go to
their little gatherings, and mother usually stays at home; although of
late, she is beginning to realize the value of the women's clubs.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE GOVERNESS

The caretaker should not be too old. It is a very great blessing if
there is an older sister in the family who can come in and assist with
this work, or if there is an aunt. If one is to be selected from the
open market, then we suggest a woman in her late teens or early
twenties whose heart is full of play, whose face is sunny, and who is
young enough to appreciate and like the becomingness of youthful
dress. It is needless to say she should be free from tuberculosis and
other diseases. She should be trustworthy enough not to administer
soothing syrups because the children won't sleep, or to give candy
when mother has forbidden her, or to teach the children bad habits of
any sort.

It is impossible to exercise too much care in the selection of this
substitute mother, and when you do find one it is often wise not to
keep her too long. A year or so is plenty long enough for any person
to be with our children. It is only necessary for anyone to walk out
into the public parks and casually listen to the conversations of many
of the "chewing-gum caretakers" to discover with what carelessness
some people select caretakers for their children. The language they
use is not only ungrammatical but oftentimes both slangy and profane.
The flirtations carried on with many of the park policemen and
bystanders lead us to feel that many people arrive at the idea that
their little folks "will grow up some way." If the caretaker is a
student, a young woman of culture, and is kept with the family, she
will be found to be more circumspect and dependable. Her gentleman
friend, if she has one, should be allowed to come to the home. She
does not have to meet him out in the park any more than a sister would
have to go away from home to meet a friend; and, to my mind,
everything centers around the viewpoint of the mother as she selects
this caretaker, for if she is her social equal it puts her in