The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1860-11-01
MANS ECONOMY COMPARED
WITH WOMAN'S

There is also a difference between
the economy of the two sexes. Adopt
ing the principle that it is a rudimental
virtue, mon soon begin to cast the bur.
den OF saving and close reckoning on
their female friends. In the good mo-
ments of lite which fortunately visit
every one in turn, many youths re-
solve to retain the wholesome practice,
and carry it on resolutely and accu.
ratcly for day or two. But then tho
fit subsidies, and the account keeping
of most men gradually dwindles down
to the simple proc ution of keeping
their gold in one pocket and their loose
silver in another. But the accounts
of women continue, and housekeeping
forces them to book or inspect the
small items OF large expenditure. 1t
is curious to trace the effects which are
relatively produced by this abandon
mont of any persistence in account of
keeping. Wo cannot dissociate from
their attention to household economy,
the wonderful couragewhich woman dis
play in tho little conflict of lifo. They
are trained to battle by tho labor they
have undergone in examining, check.
ing, and reducing bills; and a woman
who has once bearded a butcher or
baker, is not likely TO sink again to
tho level Of that yielding tlmidity before
imposing claimants which characterize
her husband or brothers. No man, ex-
cept, perhaps, those gloomy and firm
looking persons who always dine early
off the joint at the club, ever gave q
six pence to q cabman without con.
sciousness of doing wrong, and ner-
vous apprehension of consequences.
But women would rs soon give a
cabman sixpence as she would settle
an ordinary bill. So, too, their atten-
tion to household economy strengthens
and hardens the character Of women
until they dare to engage in single-hand-
ed combat with the most fearful Of all
foes-the landlady of a seaside lodging
house. A poor creature who keeps his
silver loose in his waist.coat pocket is
not likely to demonstrate when he is
informed that his occasional chop has
necesstated the maintenance, night and
day Off kitchen fire sufficient to roast
an OK, nor to object when he sees him
self charged with an amount of Har.
vey's sauce that would float his hat
But woman rush to the charge, and
treat long, neatly written bill with
same contempt and familiarity of scorn
that arc exhibited by a suspicious law
yer when he holds up gambling 1. o..
U. to gaze of an indignant jury. Let
us admire the courage by which we
profit; but, at the same time, we must
remark that the habits of household
economy often lead to expense in sin.
gular way. Tie liking to get things
cheap leads to the love of bargains, and
the knowledge that SO many things
are useful in family, inspires hope
that the most useless things will come
in sometimes. OF course, the full price
asked for Il bargain is never given, and
the most disciplined bravery andastute
manoeuvering are shown in beating
down the bargainer. Still, the bargain
is bought, and here, for once, the econ.
omical woman is less economical than
the loose silvered man. The difference
between the two sexes may indeed be
often stated thus: A man gives two
shllings for an eighteen penny thing
he wants, and n woman gives eighteen
pence for II two shilling thing that she
does not want.