The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-04-07
Thoughts on Economy.


Economy is word pregnant with meaning
In all ages, but the pressure of the times in
which we live gives to it a peculiar signii-
canoe. Our government is struggling for its
existence against formidable and wicked re-
bellion, and calls loudly and frequently not
only for strong arms and patriotic hearts, but
also for the "sinews of war" And all we can
spare of material substance should be willing
IL laid upon the altar of our country. The
practice of Iigid economy, will enable us to
give more to our government. To the rich
we look for examples worthy to be followed
in the practice of this virtue. The more they
study and practice economy in their domes-
tic and social relations, the less difficulty do
other classes find in economizing the means
which they can command.
Queen Victoria herselfis an economist, and
we trust she is one from principle; surely it
cannot be from necessity. She once sent back
q piano-forte upon which West-End trades
man had fixed "fancy price," and, hear it,
ladies, and give ear, when We say her Majesty
patronizes a shop where her boanets are
cleaned Think OF that! she has her bonnets
cleaned and probably altered instead of buying
new ones. Here is practice worthy OF all
praise. Millions might be saved every year If
all our ladies would follow such an example.
London has recently been much excited by
the christening Of the baby Princes of
Wales. This little red, blue-eyed baby wore
the same robes at the royal christening which
Its father wore when he was christened. New
ones were not purchased for the grand occa-
sion, but the good economical grandmother
had saved the old ones.
Emerson has written, An English Duchess is
not ashamed 10 say, " cannot afford it,
These words are full of meaning and tens Of
thousands of ladies on this side of the Atlantic
might repeat the words, and our country be
much benefited. Let them say, 81 can't af-
ford to purchase silks and satins, and increase
the price Of gold when our country is bleeding
from wounds made by traitors" Only think
of the immense number OF yards of silks and
other foreign fabrics literally worn out by
sweeping our streets and sidewalks. We be-
seech the ladies, if they will wear such costly
importations, to cut short their skirts and not
use them for brooms. Economy calls earnest
" for tour country calls for it-common
sense calls for it--even good taste calls for it,
common decency demands it, and why is not
such loud call needed?
We do not intend to go into details which
would swell into huge volume, but only to
throw out few hints. How many millions
might be saved every month, If the people
would practice reasonable economy in times
like thesel And surely happiness would be
increased by pursuing such course and our
common country be largely benefited.
Furs cost a vast deal of money as well as
silks. It now takes many dollars to purchase
little mink-skin or sable mufi just big enough
how injurious it is to health to thrust their
hands into one Of these little mufis, bring their
shoulders forward and thereby narrow their
chests so that the lungs are pinched for room
and the symmetry of the form injured? If
these expensive ornaments must be worn, let
them be placed behind, and when thus placed
and used, the shoulders would not loose their
graceful forms, nor the lungs the room ma
ture intended they should occupy. A word
TO the wise is sufficient