The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1868-12-15
SOCIAL AND DOMESTIC ECONOMY

Ought 10 DOs-sA bymphLniZeE WIN
Dick ,SaelEett and his Chum-.A Short
Autobiography of n Once Poor
Young Man.
To the Editor Of The Sun:
SIR-Accidentally I came across u
stray copy OF your brilliant little lumi-
nary OF Nov. 18th, which processes to,
ticularIy for young working people OF
both sexes who are striving TO rise in
the world.
was particularly interested in the
endeavors of Dlcky Sackett and his
chum to get through with Thanksgiv-
ing Day decently, and without being a
good deal worse OF at night than they
were in the morning. Most certainly,
to close the public libraries and reading
rooms OF our great city on holidays,
and especially on Sunday, is piece OF
stupidity calculated to drive the classes
they are Instituted expressly to benefit,
into drinking saloons anu worse places.
With this preface hope you will al
low me 10 give your young renuers
a biographical experience, which shall
be as brief as possible: More than
thirty years ago was young man, in
u large Western city, with no parents
or relatives, endeavoring to live and
rise in the world on clerkship in Il re-
tail drug store Mt $500 year. The
could get into cost me 50 q week, and l
was confined at my business from six
o'clock in the morning considerably
before daylight in winter till ten
o'clock at night. Compelled to dress
in a certain style to keep my situation,
after two years. experience in this way
1 found that 1t was impossible. at the
end OF the year, TO have single dollar
laid by in case of illness, or some other
accident that should deprive me OF my
daily eXertions. l made up my mind
that this would not do any longer. So
looked around, and found three other
young men situated as was We
agreed TO rent a room, to furnish 1t our
selves, keep "bachelor's hall" ourselves,
and see what would come of it. To in.
sure success, we drew up and signed
paper containing substantially the fol.
lowing conditions:
/. That we would keep together for
twelve months, and allow nothing TO
discourage us for that length of time.
.. That we would allow no profane
swearing among lis, and thu: we would
orsmoko tobacco. nor frequent II dis
reputable house, nor Introduce women
of that sort into our room.
3. That we would cook, and then
clean our room ourselves, taking turns
at it. and that we should fare exactly
These were about all the stipulatiOns
wG Insisted on, and they were faithful
" kept by all of us. We rented a large,
airy, pleasant room for $6 Il month, or
3TIS cents u week for each occupant.
We furnished il MS we could save funds
from our earnings, as none of US had
much ahead. For the first month our
outfit consisted of very small stove
bought ut auction, few tin pans, and
some straw i'll II corner on the floor.
When We were completely fitted up, we
had RX pended about SO each. We soon
found that we could live better than
We could in n boarding lhouAe for
about 81 90 week, paying for
rent, fuel, lights and PROVISIONS
week each, expanding the surplus
i'll newspapers, magazines, and books.
Our den soon became to US the most
comfortable place we could spend our
spare time in. We could make il warm
and pleasant, we had compnuy enough,
and were exactly suited at such n home
as this made for us. AT the end of the
bought number OF books to aid me in
studying medicine. Ny room mates
went of into other avocAtions, such as
suited their tastes. We continued TO
live n strictly temperate life, adhered
closely to our written agreement, and
only admitted by way of recreation ii
pack of cards, and backgammon,
draft. and chess board, to give variety
on dull occasions.
| remained In this room for four
years. In that time 1 had nine room
mates, some going away and selling out
TO others who took their places, for we
always had plenty of young men who
wished to join us. left with $500 in
savings, and struck out further West.
The habits OF economy thus acquired
have. never left me, nor have l more
pleasant recollections through long
life than those four years include. For II
good many years afIerward l saw hard
enough times, but held on 10 the
place first chosen as a home, new.
er wandered about or spent my money
in trumping, and now have a Compe-
teDcy sufficient for dozen men like
myself, which might have been ten
times as much had my ambition run
solely TO making money. The same
has been true OF my room mates. All
are yet alive, all are we'll off, all have
always enjoyed good health, and all
still retain, like myself, from force I
habit, the economy and mental discip.
line and self denial then acquired. L
can do no better, at the close OF long
life than to recommend young men and
young women to do as L did when l
was young and poor like them. This
course is especially suited for young
mechanics, clerks, students, sewing
girls, and the like. The expenses OF
four are but little more proportionately
than for one, while the society of each
is an Understandable comfort and pleas
ure as well as help, II they are only
properly selected and such people rs all
young folks ought TO be.
Young people OF both sexes every
where, save your money while you
can, while you nre young and strong.
When you get few hundred dollars
saved. leave the great city, full oftemP-
iations, for the country. There is good
fortune III store for you most surely, ii
you will but seek it in the right way.
Your future Is entirely in your own
hands. ~ LOVER OF MS RACE.
ON u,cSk- Drs 2 ISIS -