The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-08-19
Judicious Economy.

A very erroneous idea prevails with
many that any thought spent over
small outlays-sober elaboration over
economy in little things-is evidence of
low and mean traits Of character, and
betokens misery habits. We have
heard it said that to feel one must stop
and calculate articles with
reference to the cost rather than to
taste, to deliberate upon the sum total
before daring to buy-would make life
uncomfortable. To stop and examine an
old garment. and learn if by any inge-
nuity it could be turned, retrimmed, or
remodeled so as to answer another
season, instead of buying something
new, would be q torture which would
bansh half the comfort of living. "To
pick up pins and needles, carefully sew
buttons and strings, and keep before
the mind all the time the necessity of
economy, would make me feel so little,
so mean, should despise myself. I'd
sooner spend freely as long as the little
l have lasts, and then 60 to the poor
house. or die, than be slave to econ
Omy."
This is no imaginary talk, but some
thing similar or worse is often uttered.
and girls who spring up from childhood
to maturity inclined to such false mo-
tions are not the kind to make the wives
in whom the hearts of their husbands
can safely trust; and their children
will not rise up and call them blessed.
Waste and extravaganza 60 hand in
hand; and those who thus seek their
own qualification and indulgence bring
no comfort to those with whom they are
most closely connected, because they
minister to their own selfish desires re-
gardless of the good of others.
Parents often err, doubtless, by being
over strict in matters of economy, and
while trying to enforce its practice
teach their children to feel only disgust
at the idea. For this reason, perhaps,
together with some others which are
hard to explain, the young seem to
shun the very idea of economy of late,
and would feel that they were outside
of the pale of good, or rather genteel
society, if they allowed themselves to
speak of it; but to attempt to practice
it would shut them away from certain
acquaintance as altogether an inferior
class of beings.
Many who are absolutely compelled
to try and economize closely, look upon
it as an evil to be greatly deplored, and
to be attempted secretly. For the
world they would not have it known
how they 'sstrive to kesp up appear
ances' by outwardly bringing their
surroundings into some little harmony
with their more wealthy neighbors.
The ingenuity they must practice to do
this, and to conceal the many depriva-
tions they submit to rather than forego
this outside show, would be worthy of
all praise if practiced openly, without
regard to foolish criticisms.
Those who have the gift to practice
a judicious economy, and carefully
watch to prevent any waste because it
Is right, not from any mean, misery
desire to hoard and carry the practice
into all the departments over which
they rule, are blessed with a talent for
which they may be grateful. This tai
ent judiciously used is recognized by
all sensible people as most desirable,
even by those who are placed in cir
cumstances where there is no necessity
for rigid watchfulness and care.
But it is not merely as amatter of ne
cessity that we wish to urge all good
housekeepsrs to look to this, and see
that thrift and care in the management
of their affairs is not simply duty
which their own interest demands
should be conscientiously practiced,
but if rightly viewed it is, or may be, a
source of great pleasure. The frugal
use of the means put into their hands
may give more true pleasure to those
who have an abundance of this world S
good than they can find in the usual
round of fashionable amusements and
dissipation, which is too often supposed
to be the distinctive mark of good soci-
ety.-Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher, IN
Christian Union.