New-York tribune., 1877-10-27
EXTRAvAGANcE OF WOMEN.
WHEREIN MrN ARE RtspoNsmE-pRrpr, EXTRA

WHEREIN MES ARE n tSPONSlBLE-PRpf ENIkANA-
GANCE AND SILENCE ABOUT THEIR AFFAIRS
TO tn EdftOr Of The Tribune.
SIR: We owe YOU debt OF gratitude for the
miducss of your editorial on "Muddlng Away Money '
SO far We (womom concerned. For some reason
there has been lul in the TRADE against women and
their extravaganza. At fine the whole pack, III iuli
crv "Tray Blanche, and Sweetheart" were hunting
down women the sole and only cause OF all the imam
cal troubles Of the country if not the world
II too large subject Ia be treated IN the narrow
limits You allow aud perhaps enough has been already
written. 4 single word your suggestion that wo-
men might help by diminishing the waste. outside Of
legitimate business" Doubtless they might and doubt
less many DO. II impossible 90 draw any ncs,
because the lovcb that it takes all sorts Of pco-
pc 10 make world" ana the varieties in families and
households are almost infinite Is rule. you VIII hud
that women better economists than men, and VIII
give better heed hlte things, which men lofty deS-
pse. But 10 this, there exceptions Also, you VIII
fad that any reasonable woman land man should see
il that hc marrcs reasonable woman) VIII wish to
aidp her sJle OF living and her expenditures 20 ncr
husbands meme
One grand fault is. that men do not talk freely and
plainly TO their wives about their Affairs, at least 50 far
: to let them know how much they may reasonably
speud ana if there comes pinch how they may also
cut down expenses. Many men are towards and Will
perhaps blind their families 10 the true s;c OF the ease
til ruin comes.
Then II man IS doing business reckiessly who shall
blame bis wife for spending reckcssy. WAT would her
savings amount tol SIC hears thai he mas lost $1,000
$1,000. -, 900 at blCw-aud she a- saved 80 pf %lJ
No wonder woman ~ad: "t may rs wen -'t Nh3l
ference Ani. unless ohe had quietly put the money
away .crsclt, II could not.
Again, there Was woman whose husband was ex-
trayagant quite beyond his means. lie was proieS
sional man. ana was not ia Waist F.aallY, lac told her
ne was gaa- 10 buy carriage She demonstrated.
knew they coui not afford IT, begged Inn not 10 20 IN
debt any deeper ana an purpose She then sad,
quietly: II Sou do g~ clrraae, will never So fo"t
members Of the family drove Ia it, an he. husband hid-
sell (mUcA cood must II have CON hIWl; ana "..h ae
she might e1,t size free from any charge ol eX-
uaNGGaHcc IN Ii'iH-.
Tie chief point in which fail is said 20 bc cX
tTayagance IN Dress and nay be rle-not That II is
any now thius There are records III the Bible which
prove that such weakness NAV Ue Inherited. Frouch
people look at us with horror and d.slnay. Iey Say-
well tley frugal in every way aud kceo np 49,
pearanccs-ou what u u, w0ad be pttancc-n dress;
yet, silks aud other costly materials are trail upon
filthy Goors and payements. ana gorgeous garments
tiou8 eXtIaVs g3ucr and II - best not 20 load woman
with NOR. fh3n ber share OF blame For dress alone
would not iu!n A. ruc. women do not 5mj houses,
tO clubs, no baNe yachts nor dogr1r's nOr rNcn-
ya wines nor cIpars on which thc rernnue is nl nu-
Nor are thcy supposed 81 bet or gamble, make pools.
which sink much money. i : a part oi system OF
reckless expenditures in many cases light Light
10"
The foundation evil is Debt. The Nation has debt
has each state each county, each town, each village
each city, each institution, and nearly each man, and
what Was once horror every honest man. is the
normal condition OF most men, which they take a mat
ter Oi course.
To cone back more to mos moutous." Every
well lprucp viii be ready ~ do what SIZE
help in bringing back soberer and better state Oi
things Tue puzzle is where to bssin; except that We
think should frankly tel their families just what
they afford, and have confidence ami good untCT-
standing. But then h"rc comes ~ the fancy Of some
mean men. that women do not want any money.
"WhcTt'S that dollar thai gave you last Wctkl'
THe puzzle with of IL, with regard 10 sumptu
AIRY laws What Is eXtrIya sance to those who really
have money TO spend There many women who
nave resource their lives but fine necdieW or,,
embroidery, what is called fancy work 1t X pretty ANA
shOVy-t helps them. They do rot want charity, they
want work snail We dress Ike friends or shall We
adopt these vaiictlcS-auj pay for them T'cu put
temptation u the way OF those who moi afford tcm
50 struggle on.
know have not said any new thing. or even put an
old thing IN form II q all more like those puz-
lies where you take one long word and make every
variety Of words ont Ol IT, Iorau- the moral Of ~ AT
is lct men and women work Oh together and keep out
OF debt. EVE
Nec- TorL, Oct TO- 1877.