The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-26
HOW TO ECONOMIZE.
Don't Get Articles Which Require
Expensive "Fixings."

'Why is it so difficult to economical"
The wrinkles on Mrs Lorton's brow
were very deep, and it was with an air
of WEAKNESS amounting almost to de-
spair that she laid down the pencil
wherewith she had been checking off a
series Of accounts.
Aunt Abby lifted her eyes from the
stocking which she had been darning
with such exquisite neatness, and gazed
alphabetically at her distressed friend.
Il am afraid you don't quite know
how"
Mrs. Lorton looked astonished, and
we girls, who were spending the holi
days with our friend, wondered also
what The little lady could possibly mean.
Don't know how! Political econ
omy, am willing to admit, is most
difficult science; but l did not fancy
that domestic economy involved any
thing deeper than simply self-denial and
the avoidance of unnecessary expendi-
ture."
Aunt Abby smiled. cit may seem
that way in the beginning; but l really
doubt if there is any part of our daily
living that requires more tact, Judgment
and experience than this same business
of economizing successfully"
1.-The results Of my last years work
incline me to suspect something of the
same kind sighed Mrs. Lorton. II
clearly must have made great many
mistakes somewhere; but just where I
am at Il loss to discover. ! certainly
have tried very hard, and have done
wthout'a great many things l used to
think were quite necessary to the COM
fort and happiness of the household;
yet here the figures are, and really the
sum total is very little less than it was a
year ago, when our income was SO much
larger"
Mrs. Lorton looked thoroughly dis
discouraged. We, who admired her SO
much and took such pleasure in the init
mate friendship to which she had admit
ted us, sympathized with her most thor
oughly. She evidently saw how we felt
from the expression OF our faces, for
she turned to us laughingly and said:
"You young ladies must be very
much interested in my financial troubles.
1t is too bad to entertain you with my
laments over these unruly ends that
seem to require such an undue amount
of stretching in order to meet"
We fastened to reply that any thing
which concerned her could not fail tt
interest us, when Aunt Abby Ga relative
it should have been explained, of Mrs
Lorton's husband, gentle little lady
whose life had been spent in a distant
city, riveted our attention at once by
saying:
81 was just about the age of these
young ladies when l first made &C
quaintance with what I am now in
clned to call the science of domestic
economy, though, like you, when l frs
found myself under the necessity o.
mastering it, thought there was little
in it, save doing without many things
was accustomed to, and bearing the dis
comfort as heroically as possible. "
"Well," smiled Mrs. Lorton, "wha
arc the great underlying principles
Gsn't that the phrase?), also the oper
alive processes whereby we are to ar
rive at practical results-namely, the
bringing of our expenses within my
husbands means?"
We'll, echoed Aunt Abby, zone O.
the leading principles is the abandon
ment of that velvet cloak l saw yor
working at so industriously this morn.
ing, and all garments of similar char
aCter.h
What can you mean? Why, have
worn that cloak two winters, and now
have put new sleeves in it, and it is
quite as good as new. Surely nothing
could be more economical than that
Why, take immense credit to myself
for that performance.
Precisely. 1t would have been very
extravaganza to give or throw the cloak
away. lou would have blamed your
sell greatly, would you not?'
'Of course should"
We'll, let us emulate the famous COW
ana consider The cloak is of Lyons
velvet; the new sleeves required yarC
OF the same material, costing ten dol
lars. The cloak now is quite as good
as new; but, new or old. it can only be
worn In fair weather. There must be 9
eheaper one to save it Again, this
velvet cloak requires handsome dress
Under it, and cheap bonnet would be
quite incompatible with it. You re-
cure therefore, to complete the oper
ative process resulting from the under.
iymg principle of this velvet cloak, the
!:ePairlng ofwhich was such an econom.
cal measure, an expenditure of any.
where from fifty to one hundred dollars
TO produce the harmony in your toilet
winch your cultivated taste demands
anu perhaps fifty dollars more for an
9ller suit in which to 90 out on cloudy
oays, to wear shopping, and for all thu
vMronary, commonplace business of life
would it not, then, have been much
more economical to let the velvet cloak
~ ana purchase substantial cloth one
aslmmed with fur, we will say, so that
Hsaall be handsome enough for visit