The Argosy — page 209: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

192 WHERE SHALL I SPEND MY HOLIDAYS? “| Be above question is most important to any woman who has to maintain herself by her own exertions ; so many things must be considered. Expense is a great object to a working woman, and as a holiday is necessary to health, it is needful to be careful in select- ing a health-giving air; and as solitude is not good for either health or spirits, she has also to look for congenial companionship. Now let me tell you of a sea-side ome which combines all these necessaries: where I spent a most delightful holiday last year, and where I am enjoying myself equally this year. A friend who had passed a fortnight there told me of ‘* The House of Rest for Women in Business,” at Babbicombe, South Devon. She gave so glowing an account of it, and I had longed, so vainly, all my life to see Devonshire, that I wrote, as directed, to Miss Skinner. I received a most kind reply promising me a welcome; and early one morning started from a dull Northern town upon my long journey to the sunny South. According to instructions I alighted at Torre Station. ‘There I found some small omnibuses, and one of them conveyed me and my luggage to Babbicombe. An up-hill ride of half-an-hour brought me to my destination. The omnibus stopped at a pretty, semi-detached villa of moderate size, standing back from the road, a short carriage drive leading to the entrance. With rather a quaking heart I approached the door, wondering whom or what I should meet first. In the vesti- bule a lady, who was, I found, the matron, greeted me very cordially —a great relief to a tired traveller—and by her I was taken upstairs to a room, in which were two beds, white dimity curtains dividing the chamber in half, so that each occupant was quite in private. Each part was provided with an ottoman, one chair, a wash-hand-stand, with a looking-glass and towel-rail above and a cupboard beneath. Here I left my belongings, and went down the broad staircase to the dining-room, where I had some supper and chatted for a few minutes with the matron. Ever since I came into the house I had heard merry voices and laughter proceeding from the room opposite the dining-room: the occupants were evidently enjoying some good game. ‘The dining-room was long and large, furnished with a couch, two long tables placed T fashion, and comfortable chairs; the walls were delicately coloured in shades of green. From the two windows I often afterwards caught delightful glimpses of the sea. As I was fatizued, the matron excused me from joining the household that night ; and so I took my lamp and was very glad to go to rest. The next morning at 7.30 a bell rang for dressing, and at 7.55 a second summons brought the “ visitors” (as the inmates are called) EOPMIE LOO KS.(e) m