The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-03-26
True and False Domestic Economy.

The following article, from New York journal,
presents most fully, and perhaps little wickedly,
the system which many ladies seem to act upon in
domestic arrangements. The rule upon char
gains, particularly, is carried out on all occasions
by more than one of our acquaintance, who con-
slider it sufficient plea, in every case, that it
such bargain!''
There may be some satire-but there is deal of
truth in the remarks of the writer, who probably
has been sufferer from short allowances and cheap
purchases himself, if we may judge from the feeling
manner in which he speaks.-Eds. Meals Gas.
Domestic economy as practised by the feminine
moderns, consists in saving at The spiggot and dis
bursting through the bung. 1t is not inconsistent
with domestic economy to give ball or soiree to a
hundred people, for whom you care not button,
and who care not a button for you, provided you
can save the amount in driblets within six months
by putting your servants on short allowance diet
ing, the children on soup maigre, cutting off your
parlor fire by living in the basement, selling the
kitchen stuff empty bottles, old clothes and rags of
the establishment, and screwing down every trades
man with whom you deal one notch below living
profit. II a cashmere shawl can he had bargain
say an article as good Mrs. AS five hundred
dollar one, for four hundred dollars-it would be
solecism in domestic economy not to purchase it.
Envy and pride are the sources of household and
personal magnifcence and to crafty these fash
ionable virtues, at the lowest possible figure is one
of the great ends of domestic economy. The omis-
sion OF meat fer dinner thrice a week. the substu-
ton Of sal! butter for fresh, and abstinence from
eggs, with a few other notifications of the family
flesh Tor year or so, will 60 near to pay for the
sumptuary luxury. If necessary toll NAV also be
taken of the tea pot and the sugar-bowl. Should
the maids complain of the severe regimen, dismiss
them. Plenty of drudges may always be found
who will starve cheerfully very moderate wages.
"l 1t is rule in domestic economy to buy all
bargains in dry-goods. The lady WHO neglects
to purchase any fabric convertible into raiment
thai can be had one-haf per cent under the market
price, is ignorant of The st principles of domestic
economy Even if she be bride, and the article is
Grape, 1t may come in use some time. May-must;
it would be flying in the face of Providence to
doubt it.
eff the laudable practice of buying every thing
that is cheap threatens to produce vacuum in the
domestic treasury, it may be well to persuade
the husband that smoking leads to consumption,
and gin-cocktails to early grave. word
thrown in about the danger of playing billiards and
rolling tenpns in of aneurism, and other dis
eases of the heart, generally takes effect The
ladys next step should be to induce her spouse to
fee her daily TO the amount he is accustomed to
spend in these extravagances. This is the fnesse,
the Talleyrand touch Of domestic economy.
1t is really incredible to those who do not IN
derstand the science, what great show may be
made with moderate income, by judicious cur
taiment of family comforts, and cheese pairing
surveillance Of the odds and ends.
love of bonnet may be screwed out of
family OF half a dozen children in less than
month, by due regard for their health in sending
them to bed early without their suppers
- To sum up the grand axioms of domestic econ
omy are these: make the greatest possible splash
at the least possible cost-pinch and screw al home
in order to shine abroad-sacriice every comfort
for the sake of exciting neighborly envy-live on
half rations for six months in order to give ex
trayagant banquet at the conclusion of the penance
and finally, after life of concealed privations
and public peacocksm, leave enough behind you