Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-08-06
MARRYING ON MARGINS.
HOW Young Couples Can Keep House
On slender Means.

aUIy yet Cueaply y mas occupied the at
tention of many writer's, whose the
cries are either impracticable or not
cheap enough for mechanics and
other persons to whom every dollar
is al object. But for good sound
sense writer In the St. Louis Post
Dispatch seems to have studied the
subject IN such an interesting way
that cannot fail to impress the reader
with the wisdom of his remarks.
The economical young lady of the
period, having arrayed herself from
head to foot In a costume which cost
her So So, and her adoring lover having
dressed himself in a new spring suit
and outfit for the reasonable sum of
50 81, the natural consequence fol
lows With palpitatlng hearts, beat
ing high in hope, and with anticipa-
tons of sucking dry the orange of
matrimonial bliss, they HE them
selves to the nearest pGrson or Justice
to be tied. This important and deli
cate matter having been satisfactorily
adjusted, they naturally turn TO the
realities of life. 4 nest has to be
prepared for these cooling doves.
Now, the popular impression among
callow and thoughtless youths and
giddy girls is that It takes big block
of street railway stock or a member
ship in the house of delegates when a
gas bill is on hand to fit up suitable
home for a young and accomplished
bride. This is a mistake The good
sense shown by our young couple in
the selection Of their clothing leads
them to adopt the same course with
reference to their household things,
The chances are that the groom's
pockets are not overloaded with legal
tender and that the two are willing
to begin life on an economical basis
and work up with the years and the
increase of means and necessities. II
is a common saying that Young Am
erica begins where its parents left off,
but it is fair to presume that the young
couple in hand are willing to get
along with less.
The young woman, being a sinsible
girl has learned to cook, wash and
attend to household duties herself,
withoat the aid of others, and hence
p1oflSlSA iOI q SCI dHb may NC uIop~
ped out of the calculation. Those
young married people who contem-
plate anything below a six-room
house, with stone front at that, with
contempt, will doubtless be shocked
at the plain way in whieh this couple
will go to housekeeping, and young
men who have put off aatrimony un.
til good many months salaries can
be saved up will be surprised and may
possibly be persuaded to start out in a
frantic search for sensible girl with
a view of undertaking her care. The
search should be very careful one
The home of the pair is to be modest,
but it is to be comfortable, and will
contain all that is necessary for the
operation of the household. It will
doubtless ,open the eyes of some
young society people vino have re-
Gently tried housekeeping after the
most approved modern plaza to learn
that this can easily be done for $50,
and that, too, with only SMALL part
Of the total cost IN pocket, if the time
privilege should be taken
of. On this basis of SIS
will clothe. pay wedding expenses,
barring tour, and will start couple
in good style, and marriage dw,ndles
from a mountain to a mole hill.
Having secured two pleasant rooms
in respectable neighborhood, the
first thing the pair will want will be
furniture IF they keep their eyes in
one direction they can get it, and out
of furniture shop at little cost. They
caM purchase substantial imitation
walnut bed for 50. mattress for the
same price, and spring for 81; six
chairs will cost IS, washstand 50, a
dining table So so, bureau 81, kitchen
table $1.20, two pillows $120, and
centre table for sitting room 50. so,
making a total of S24.20. Of course
this presumes that they are beginning
at this time of the year, when no
preparations for cold weather will be
needed, and also that the lady has
been industrious enough to provide
herself with linen and covering. The
important consideration is the kitch~
en-. A gasoline stove can be obtained
At this time OF the year the young
WOuaH Will lake q ghSO1luS SLONS DIS
far the more comfortable and convan
lent of the two This with the neces-
sary utensils wll cost about So.
China will be the next thing to be
gotten. By due attention TO details
a set of china large enough for fam
lily OF two or three, can be obtained
for S. and set of glasses for 25 cents.
A toilet set will cost So 25. These are
all of good ware. not Clipped OF brok-
en-, but new and sound. A half dozen
each of tea and tablespoons, silver
plated will cost S1.50, and q set of
knives and forks with carvers will
cost $1.75. Very cheap carpets can be
bought, but as neat and comfortable
a substitute as can be found will be a
tasteful ingram rug, and the young
man can spend d leisure hour in paint
ing the floor around it. This rug,
large enough for moderate sized
room can be had for So.
This will complete the list Of abso-
lutely necessary things, and will sum
up as follows: