The Placer herald., 1874-11-28
EXPENSIVE HABITS.

A great deal Of nonsense is written now;
a-days about the expense of living. For in.
stance, in a schedule taken fiom a s'poor but
deserving" mans actual expenditures for q
week, was.the item of one pound Of Coffee
and this mans expenses were held up be.
fore the public to show that the working
class (the very poor of course) could hardly
live on the money received. Now, know
people of moderate means who live we'll and
only use one pound of coffee month, ahd
from my own experience in housekeeping I
conclude the poor man mentioned above La:
not a New England girl for wife.
1t is because poor people, especially poot
mems wives, are ignorant and will not try 70
learn, that everything they earn is eaten up.
Aside from the rent. it is cheaper living il
New York city than in the inland towns and
cities q speak from experience, having tried
both) and if city girls. both rich and poor,
would only pay a little more attention to
household duties, or, if they were ignorant
when married, would try to learn something
afterward, and get up little enthusiasm
over their breakfasts and dinners, or make
the most of everything, instead of moaning
and groanng because their precious lily
hands must be soiled little, we should, I
believe, hear less about poverty. In every
household it is the wife who can let the ND.
ney slip through her fingers for necessities"
as the husband thinks, and in making pala-.
table dishes from what is cleft over;' II
you cannot do this. if you know of nothing.
and can invent nothing but "boardng house
hash to make of your cold meat, then you
n hos un h.
teel' and board. | have often admired the
ingenuity shown by many city women in re-
modelling and making over their wardrobes.
and have often wondered why they did not
apply the same skill in the culinary depart
ment Girls Of the poor and medium classes.
reared in New York, as rule make dread
fully shiftlsss housekeepers.- All they seem
to think of is a fine dress to their back and a
diamond ring for their fingers, as many Of
them have, truly.
There are many New England girls Lere;'
some Of them are rich and some of them are
poor; but, go where you will among them
you will find cleanliness, thrift, economy.
and knowledge of what is going on in the
world around them. They are not afraid Of
work, and they take pride in we'll ordered
"'"SO' OoHio""" tHct bicSStu iuOtueT, WHO
may be even now living in comfortable
poverty up among the Connecticut hills.
have ipsted such habits into Them, and
have taught them so much of life and living, !.
that when they marry and have children Of
their own they are prepared to bring them up
to be men and women, not fops and fashion
able ladies', thank God. Perhaps l, New
England woman, have no right to say tLs,,.
but think have, for have known many
of my clan, and | take just pride in their
virtues.
1t is the penny saved moro than the pen:
ny earned that enrches; it is the sheet turn
ed when the first threads break that wears
the longest; it is the damper closed when the
cooking is done that stops the dollars from
dropping into the coal bin; it is the lamp or
gas turned low when not in use that giveS
you pin money for the month; it is the care
in making the coffee that makes three spoon.
fus 90 as far as a teacupful ordinarily; it is
the walking one to six blocks, instead of
t'king car or omnibus, tiat adds r,n,tl
TO yoar body and money to your purse; it u
the careful meniing of each weeks wash
that gives ease to your conscience and length
OF days to your garments, and last OF all, it
is the constant care exercised over every
part of your household, and constant endeay-
or to improve and apply your powers to your
work that alone give peace and prosperity to
your mily.-Spruaqtield Republican.