The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1877-1885, 1878-06-27
Housekeeping Expenses.

Housekeeping cares and expenses
are under discussion in the New York
Times. The discrepancies in the esti-
mates of different writers illustrate
the artificial standard of tastes and
comfort. One correspondent COM
plains that he can save nothing OF an
income of $ 5000 a year. Another,
who signs himself "A Sufferer bit
terlv bewails the miseries of his fate,
that even with an annual income OF
so. OO9, with a house of his own to
boot. and no children, and while Hy-
ing very i~nexpensively, too, he can
save nothing. Another, more
ical. is scandalized at such an estima e,
and saws: Il, sir, am glad to be able
to spend on a family of seven besides
myself, suddenly thrown upon me for
support, at the age of ~siXty-hve, the
sum of $1,000 annually, without the
background of a house OF my own
even to live in, or any surety OF any
permanent income withal to cheer or
sustain me. Why not call for a law to
limit the per centage OF rent to ten
per cent. upon the tax valuation OF
rentable property in lieu Of lamenta-
tons that are ludicrous"
"Germania," a fast young man, upon
a salary of $1,000, says he cannot al
ford the luxury of wife, and an
animated donkey, signing himself
..Naterland," indorseS that sentiment,
and refuses to assume the risk OF
marriage" on the ground that our laws.
giving women unusual and special
privileges and rights, have made them
so ~eXtravagant in spending money, and
so useless for household work, that
they have become spendmates instead
of helpmates. W~hereupOn A Mar
ried Yankee" puts an eXtlnguisher
upon them both, as follows 1T seems
to be a common mistake with young
men to regard wives az luxuries, which
they hope to purchase when in a posi-
ton to do so. LIZ that case they natu-
rally regard them as expensive. No
doubt there are women who look upon
marriage as merely a means of being
Well provided for, but such are IN the
minority. The greater portion OF
American girls are willing to be help
mates to the men they love. If Ger
mania viii get a wife of the right
kind he will find this to be the case"
The editor of the Times sums up the
controversy by asserting that a family
embracing, say, four children and two
servants, keeping as good a table as
American families are accustomed to
keep, and giving their children a good
education. showing the hospitality
which all ''middle-class'' Americans
do, and without the luxury of horses
or a carriage, can literally save nothing
out Of an income of s., 900 per annum.
All of which reminds us of a little
story as Abraham Lincoln would saw.
Some twenty years ago a sister of the
writer was talking over the vexed
question of 'famiiy expenses" with
the wife of Mr.. Schuyler. the great
railroad magnate of the day. With
tears in her eyes,, Mrs. SCHUYLER de-
plored the inevitable cost of living.
Here am l." she exclaimed, 'econO-
MIXING in every way. and yet my ex-
penses for the past year have exceeded
$4,000"
The fact is that the necessaries of If
are very few and very cheap: its luxe
uries infinitely numerous and expen-
siye. But brave and earnest young
men and women can ALWAYS afford tC
marry after two or three years of i'm.
dustrious preparation. Indeed they
cannot afford not to marry. 1.-Two
heads are better than one" We have
a good deal of sympathy with pool
Paddy, who refused TO be dissuadeC
from matrimony by a disciple o
Malthus, enchanting, Sure, | car
almost support myself, and it's hard i
the woman can't do a little - w,
commend the story to .,Germania
Truth lies between the two extremes
u omda's Journal.