St. Landry democrat., 1884-11-29
LIVING WITHIN MEANS.
A Wise Practice Which Contributes to
Happiness and Comfort

Wise Practice Which Contributes to-
Happiness and Comfort
Much has been written, at different
times, of the Importance of living with
in ones means. Happiness is defined
bv a certain author as living within u
narrow income, and misery the debt
hat follows extravaganza. That the
secret of contentment is in this, COM
mon experience will confirm. AS q
rule, in this country, when no special
misfortune is experienced, an indus
trious person can command a sufficient
income for comfort. We mean by this
term, not the qualification of artificial
and luxurious tastes, but the essentials
of life. But there is q vast difference III
families in the matter of management.
We have known families, of considera-
bic size, with but an income of dollar
a day, who lived contented, cleanly,'
comfortably and happy in small, plain
homes, but with enough palatable food
to supply healthy, vigorous appetites.
Judgment and care were exercised in
purchases, and luxuries We're, of course,
unknown, But a spirit Of contentment
answered in place of luxury.
On the other hand, small families
with double and treble this income, oft
en- live squalidly and wretchedly. The
difference is in management. 1t is often
said that French families will live on
what we waste and while this may be
an extreme statement. it contains
enough truth to be suggestive. Econ
omy is not, as q rule, peculiar to us.
We live where abundance is found, and
have never felt the necessity for stinting
or limiting. Yet it is well to econo-
mize, even if we have q surplus. The
''rainy day is sure to come, and if pro-
vided for. it is pleasant to glide down
the hill in comfort and peace.
In order to live within ones means,
there must be a spirit of contentment
with the lot that happens to be ours,
and accord between husband and wife.
1t often happens that the noblest result
of the discipline of life is in the spirit OF
contentment we cultivate in spheres that
are below our ambition. There are
many qualified. by taste and culture,
for the Hottest places, who are COM
PEELED by circumstance to fill lowly sta
tons. And some meet this necessity
with i'll grace. They struggle to appear
to fill higher positions than they are
actually able to occupy without incur
ring debt All this tends to embarrass-
ment and trouble But where a spirit
of contentment is cultivated, the lowlier
sphere affords as much real happiness
as the higher.
But excess of outlay sometimes occurs
because the husband does not fully COM
municate to his wife his business condi-
,dition. His business may be pretentious
and yet Improbable. 1t may do well
one year and poorly another. The
wife, surprising the income sufficient,
!adapts the expense to it. Yet, all the
while the husband runs behind, and at
last crash comes. All this might have
been avoided by mutual candor. Chill
;dren, too, are often eXtravagant with
out intending to be so. If accustomed
to have every wish gratifed there is a
growth of want, which at last becomes
expensive. But if the beginnings of ex-
travagance are controlled the bad eff
fects do not follow. 1t is wise at all
times to live within ones means be-
cause it contributes to happiness and
comfort. Philadelphia Call.