Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-12-31
VOL. I4AAIiI.
What is Economy.
From the Richmond Enquirer. I

Next to the feeling OF mutual, loving kind
ness, which is the life aud light of the house
hold, there is nothing of half the importance
to the happiness OF family as economy And
1t Is a lamcutabie observation that while the
attempted practice of it is rare enough, the
knowledge of what really constitutes economy
IS far more SO.
There are some families who would show
signs OF poverty and bad management if they
ran 4 mint and there are others who would
look neat aud comfortable, and we'll provided,
on what the general world would say was not
enough to keep body and soul together We
have the happiness at this moment to have iu
our eye just such family. There are several
members of the household, but what the iu-
come is we cannot say-only we know it is just
the smallest. But tue family is one their
cares, their paius, their fears, and hopes and
,inyS are absolutely common. And then when
We come TO visit them We recognize them the
moment our hand is Oh the gate. We
sec good sense. and good management,
in the very latch of the front gate, and in
the yard. ln the proper season the flowers all
grow. the vines ali CLUB better than anybody
clSc'S O1c days work of gardener suf6ces,
and all the rest they do themselves, and every
thing is beautiful aud hourishing. And then
the house itself is the very type of neatness and
comfort. You notice no want, but are struck
with nu!tltudiuous coutrlvanccs to please the
eye and make you feel u; case. The table has
always enough omit, and tempting, too, though
10 way suggestive of gluttory. The whole
house is u model Virginia home, and net only
do its proprietorS carry kind aud ready vel
come for all who visit them, but uumbcrless
are the contrivauces that please nightly but
cost nothing that go from their hands to all
the children around And We are Just writing
our observations We would like to give
financial statement of this concern for the pub
lie benefit but must torbear. We only think
we know their principle, aud give 1t. They
have no pride and vanity to crafty, and have
never even heard Of Mrs Gruudy. They look
directly ANA honestly at their duties, their real
wants and real comforts aad usefulness, and
they use their wits and sound judgments and
their own hands in di,charging, in providing
1or and promoting them.
We could easily give picture of family
quite the reverse of shat just presented.
large yard aud large house and large hail.
and large rooms and SPLENDID mirrors and mag
riiccnt pictures. and splendid dining room,
and chamber and a nursery, and no children
aud dyspeptic, ovcr-pampered wife, ana
gay sweet husband, and bad bread and detest
able French cooking aud drcary parlors with
not a comfortable seat IN them, aud pictures
without sense or meaning 10 them-and we are
door, whose bolt is out Of order, and pity the
dying evcrgrcens, aud slam the broken trout
gate behind us: and the very first thing VIC
learn that the man has been living at uore than
$4,000 year, and is going to boardlng-or
that mis- finances are getting yearly behind
hand.
These arc familiar pictures, and we can de-
rive wise instructions Tor private as we'll as pub
lie use.
How much happier would we be as people
and as a State it we would study our duties first.
and then our real wants and real actual natural
comforts.
And then if our Legislature could take
similar view OF our State $ management The
happy household is but the type at last OF the
hlcst Republic Honesty, the faithful dis
charge of our duties the cultivation OF virtue
and the true development of the mind, Is the
very basis of good government and prosl Gritty
And. on the other hand, sharp practlce-pan'
dcring to the repudiating clamors or the mob
ministcring to vain and unwl schemes--Wast-
ing the strength and character OF the State on
strange and wild couceits, anl seeking all the
time the aims Of low dcmagogucry. Is the way
to absolute and utter ruin.
We would put cur instruction IN feW lines:
Toll them tnat States of native strength possest.
Though very poor, may still be very olcst; =.
That Trades proud empire hasteo 10 s"i'
decay ,.
But sef-depenGcnt power can time dely
As rocks resist the billows and the sky
TIE SLAHGY SEr-The slangy set amuse
me. TO be sure, week ln light house with
ono of them would be direful doom; take
dozen words and phrases from their vocaou,
larry, and they would be as mute DIS nSu ou'
they arc diverting for the nonce.
L., L, t1Jlr nrottV
Girls who had every probability in their favor
f;.r y long life aud merry one, but still NOR
tn,rv uncertainty seemed to be hanging over
them all. Every other minute came TINS
nhrase from their rosy lips, i shall die
with a wondrous variety of clocutlonary ctfcc1.
II shall die ''-acccnt on last word ana rising
infection; II shall die!'-prolonged clrcum, lo1
Ary II shall die !''-explosivc orotund
shall die ic!'-dccidcd falling Infection. One OF
them occasionally tried the lnterrogatlye form,
won't YOU dic?" with an indescrloaoic air OF
eush and iucpicnt iaioey. The limits for r. TINS
snt are from the schoolboy, who tells you IT you
we're to hear the teers talk you couldn un,
dnrstand half they said, to the young marrlcd
l,Iv whose stock Of ideas is limited. But
.I,ny is 70 some extent universal, and 10 pro
,nr denrec rather useful. Schec de We're says
that We speak English, but talk American, ana
I contcss to liking for some OF the raDole-
charming words which carry so much wldure
wrapt up in them. y GALAXY.
ASLEEP FOR NINE YEARS s-The Pctou New
Nation prints the following, and Kingston peo-
nile want to know who the lady in questlon. IS:
A lady in Kingston has lately, awakened lro.h
nine years. sleep. She fell into a S.upu,' .a
awakening at noon each day to receive re re-
,,rshments, which had to be fed to her, sne
49,. ta;n,, .blo to move hand or foot nor speak
~" ;,"t Jurng the whole interval. If her atten-
as aue WV vent mt to Sleep again not awakening un-
I I'll the next day at noon. Upon her recovery very
si' ".,In ' far her clothes as if awakening from
usual u rest, and upon her friends coming to see &c
rrsbe would remark, How old you nav, hase
,,r,,vn - ssHoS gray your hair is = or 10"