Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-07-21


A lady contributes to Fyazer's Mag
dzine some interesting sketches of life
and society in Germany. which are
not Fascinating TO people accustomcd
to the comforts Of American life. Ii
people in this country could be con-
tent to follow the customs of the Ger
man fatherland, all our artisans and
laborers might make large savings.
and gradually rise to the dignity OF
capitalists. Her articles are capital H.
lustrations of the old proverb, "One
can't eat cake and keep it:' one can't
spend money for the comforts of life,
and save largely at the same time. Ii
one has many wants, he cannot be rich
even with large income If he has
few wants, no may be rich on small
pittance.
Tho French have tact in making a
little go great way, in keeping up
fine appearances with little capital
But the Germans do not care for APP
pearances. They are content with the
bare necessities Of life, and find it no
sacrifice TO give up fine appearance
There is stoical philosophy, ifno love
Of fine arts, in the words with which a
German friend defended her simple
mode of life to this English lady =
"You make existence too elaborate /;
all these things make q fuss, are irk-
some and impractical. My strip of
bedside carpet is better than your
square of Brussels. get pair of
felt slippers, and don't feel my bare
boards. You spend don't know how
many thalers on your carpet and give
| a servant work to brush it, and it har-
bors dust, and it wears out, while my
felt slippers are still good. Or if they
are getting thin, | can buy a new pair
in the next street for ten groschen."
In the same philosophical spirit, she
maintained that her chamber, without
any of the ornaments or even comforts
of English families, answered all USE
full ends. 1t had no wardrobe, no bu-
resu, no bedstead of handsome wood,
no washstand, with japanned pals or
bath-tubs, no bathing-towels. "Why
spend money" she asked, "on marble
and mahogany, when deli and deal
will do as well? It is not necessary
that l should sec the length OF
my petticoats, the sweep of my
train, the dimensions of my pouf in
long glass. l can look at myself
just as we'll in a little mirror set
upon chest of drawers, as in a
fine toilet glass, drapcd in lace and
muslin. No woman's face is more
than foot square, and why should l
squander my husbands money in tin
tacks, and glazed lining? The lace
and the muslin cost money to wash, a
woman's wages, woman's food; the
pink lining will fade, it must be re-
newed. My chest Of painted drawers
docs just as well as your frivolous
dressing table with its frippery and
finery, and china pots and and wash
ing-stands and smelling bottles; the
drawers require no washing or IRON
ing, or starching, and, after all, who
would be there to see II!
There is the basis of rigid economy.
Have few wants and no expensive
tastes, and little money will go
great way. Nor did the German mat
ron disdain culture and the fine arts in
their place, but their place in her mo-
ton, was not at home. "Beauty Ed
ucation of the eye2 Association, form,
harmony these things are nonsense
in everyday life; think of the time
the knick.knacks take to dust, to
arrange; you must keep an extra SER
want to do it. Art is all very well in
its proper place. Are not all our gal
leries free and cannot have beauty,
value for hundreds of thousands of
dollars, by turning round the corner
of the next street, where there is one
of the finest collections in the
world?"
The German matron spoke sober
sense, even il one can't agree with her
views Of life. 1t IL the knick-knacks
that cost, the artificial wants that ere.
ate the burdens of Americans society.
The knick -knacks cos. money, time,
labor, anxiety, worriment, and make
the details of housekeeping burden
that crushes many . wife and mother.
But who can draw the line between
baroness and comfort, between simplic-
ity and elegance, between indepen-
dent tastes and the despotism of fash
ion2 American homes, as q whole
have . wider range of comfort, than