The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1874-03-18
Economical Girls

Did you ever see modern young woman
who was trained in domestic economy,
Mr.. Editor? Tor modern young man who
knew the meaning of the word economy p
| am about "a years old, yet in my whole
life ] have not met four girls who under
stood how to practice domestic economy in
its broadcast and best sense. The trouble
is that SO many good people mistake
economy for parsimony. There is as much
difference between the two as between a
rose and sun.fower!
MARY said to me to-day, as ! was re-
seating good pair Of pants for one Of my
boys. never find it economical to do such
thing; besides, it's bother. Such pants
as those 60 into my rag-bag and are cut
up into carpet rags or given to some poor
family"
''But,n said ''these pants are good vet !;
Joe has worn the seat on the schoul-house
benches; this new seat will make them
last just twice as long as otherwise, and,
Te-seated. they are as good as a new pair"
"Yes, but / never have any pieces /;
Sam 3 clothes are all bought ready-made
and Of course no pieces like them come
into my hands"
In such case, the moment they begin
to break through, put strong piece of
cloth on the inside and darn them down.
They last almost equally we'll as ifre-seated.
But after | once get a pattern that fits, ]
buy the cloth apd cut and make my boys
pants myself. fsave nearly fifty per cent
ofexpense BY so doing, leaving out Of con-
sideration the economy Of having pieces
with which to repair Them
20 | haven't patience for such fuss
ing!'
But | have, and fiad as much pleasure
saving Tor earning1 money in this way as
in any other. What save helps me to pay
good prices for good hired help, which /
have little difficulty in obtaining so long
as pay well and treat them as should
want to be treated in the same position.
will not have any other than intelligen
help in the house; and | find it economi-
cal to pay for SUCH"
give yon this little scrap Of converse
tion as sample Of what almost daily
occurs in my sttiIg-room, relative to
household economy. There is such
want OF calculation, so much effort to
economic when it does not pay to do SO,
and such wasteful extravaganza when
little careful forethought might save far
more than it would cost to have needed |
conyeniences, that | am often wondering |
why some good, sensible woman does not |
start a school and teach domestic economy.
Why, sir, don't know half dozen girls,
eighteen years old, who know enough to |
cut and make their own Undertaking, to |
say nothing of their fathers or brothers |
shirts Think what helpmeets they will |
be to their husbands! Is it any won.
der that SO many good.hearted girls are
doomed to the unnatural life of "Old |
Maidso when men know that they cannot |
be helpmeets? And, mind you, have
found out, from the manner in which the
merits Of these girls are discussed in my
presence, that men do know their real ac-
quirements. How they found out cannot
say, unless these girls are in the habit Gas
many girls are) Of Boosting how little they
know about work
o, we do need training schools for girls in
economy, or mothers who have
force, nerve and good sense enough to in-
sist that their girls shall learn when young
what will be useful to them when they be-
come wives and mothers Esther -AAea,
IN ktral Neo Forker. i