2. In the Country—On the farm. In the camp. Among the mountains. By the sea. Comparison of experiences by members of the club.
3. Vacation and Study—Is it a good plan to combine the two? Summer schools. Chautauquas so called. Conventions (religious, sociological, scientific, musical, pedagogical, etc.).
4. Vacations at Home—The opportunity of a delightful summer. The possibilities of the yard: tents, out-of-door meals, the arbor, the garden, etc. City roof-gardens for families. Trolley-rides. Trips and picnics.
Books to Consult—M. L. Pool: Vacation in a Buggy. F. H. Winterburn: Vacation Hints. Talfourd: Vacation Rambles and Thoughts (1845).
Discuss these questions: What proportion of one's income is properly spent in a vacation? What is the influence of life in a summer hotel on parents and children? Is the rest from housekeeping and the change of life compensation for the drawbacks there? Is the enlarging of the social circle of one's grown children a duty? Saving versus travel.
IX—CHILDREN IN THE HOME
1. The Children's Rooms—The nursery and its furnishings. Rooms for the older children: seclusion, comfort, individuality. The playroom and the workshop.
2. Children and Parents—The ideal relationship: parents as friends. When should discipline end and personal freedom begin? Children at table. The bedtime hour and how to make the most of it. The blessing of grandparents in the home.
3. Brothers and Sisters—Mutual interests: work and play together. Cultivation and maintenance of the ideal of friendship between brothers and sisters. The spirit of chivalry and the spirit of service.
4. Children and Servants—Overfamiliarity versus dignity in the relation. Respect for a servant's rights and belongings.