Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1873-11-21
Farm and Fzresaae.
THE HINT OF s.fv.I.vG.

Petty economies are generally disagreeable
TO those who have to practice them, and
they always require much self-control;
still they are the only means by which men
in general can lay ups provision against
sickness or old age. Liberal expenditures
and princely style of doing business con-
stitute, in exceptional cases only, the road
to success. More money is sometimes
made by spending than by saving, since
good credit is thereby established, which
takes the place of capital, and permits an
otherwise impossible extension of business.
But these instances are rare, and unless
unusual ability and vigilance are employed
adventurous spirits come to grief. Among
the large classes that live upon wages and
salaries, there is positively no exception TO
the rule that "a penny saved Is. penny
earned Indeed, in some instances 1t is
more, since time that has money value is
also wasted in Improbable expenditure
and health imperiled.
usefulness characlerizes our domestic
economy TO an extent unheard of in more
frugal countries, and we must always eat,
drink and be clothed with the best that the
market affords. Hard work deserves fat
living, is the national maxim, and almost
the only unbelievers in it are the strangers
within our gates, especially those of Ger
man origin or descent, who are rapidly ac-
cumulating fortunes by their exceptional
frugaity. There is a certain justification
for our liberality of expenditure, even up
Oh economic principles, for 1t has been
definitely ascertained that the better the
workman is fed, clothed and housed the
more productive he becomes as a mere
machine. And so it happens that the pau
per labor Of Europe, the generally alleged
excuse for a high tariff policy in this coun-
try, dees not produce satisfactory economic
results. Your machine, even if man is
only regarded in the light of producing
agency, must be kept in good order, other
wise its products are meagre There is no
economy In depriving ourselves Of an
abundant supply OF nourishing food, de-
cent raiment, and healthful shelter; but
this affords no excuse for the prevalent sin
of waste, nor does 1t justify spending hard
won wages upon expensive delicacies, I'M
necessarily large habitations, or costly
trifes. There Is far too slavish a subser-
viency TO fashion among all classes. Econ
omy in this respect would not only save
money, but tend to create much needed
independence, both in dress and our whole
manner of life.
If the large deposits in our saving banks
are cited TO show that the habit of saving
in this country needs little stimulus, 1t
should be remembered that the petty capt.
talist has become large depositor in those
institutions, especially in some of the coun-
try banks, where the rate of interest a.
mounts in some instances to seven per
cent. Even six per cent. yields larger
revenue than can be obtained upon invest
ments upon bond aud mortgage in New
York city after taxes are deducted. There
fore the large amounts in our institutions
are not a fair criterion Of the savings of our
laboring classes.
The only absolutely certain way OF incul-
eating habits of economy is TO begin with
the children and accustom them TO self-con-
troll and self denial by saving portion OF
their pocket money, or the earnings of odd
minutes. There will be even greater ne
cessity for economy in the next generation
than in this, since now the bounteous gifts
Of nature are being very lavshly drawn
upon, and our successors are likely to live
under narrower conditions than we do. The
city OF Client, Belgium, has set us good
example in this matter. Without Govern
ment influence, and mainly through the in
strumentality of the school-masters and
school-mistresses of that city, five-sevenths
of the children who attend the schools hav,
become savings banks depositors. They
bring their confines to their teachers, who
deposit for them and 1902 Of the atten
dants upon the schools are thus pract icinl
frugality. Out off, $3.50 boys and girls in thu
primary schools, 1858 have savings banl
accounts, the aggregate sum deposited by
chem, according to paper read before III,
British Association, being 274,6O2 francs
In the infant schools (the habit of savin,
begins thus early there are 3,O39 children
ofwhom $40 are depositors of &C, 523 francs
In the primary schools for the classes VIII,
pay for instruction, there are ,079 scholars
$40 of whom deposit 22,687 francs and II
the schools for adults, held evenings ant
Sundays, out of {, 2s5 men and women, 2,
$50 are deposltors to the amount Of 1926
francs; thus over slOO, 900 is deposited Il
the savings banks through this agency i
that little city.
Ifsuch machinery could be applied
our common schools, 1t would tend not on