The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-05-26

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81 have no doubt of it. 1t is the way
in which every one begins, 1 fancy"
Aunt Abby amused us for the next
half hour with merry stories of the
Kings she had bought to match other
hings in her early days of economizing
and Belle and l thought guilty of some
elaborate gauze overdresses, broad
sashes and expensive artificial flowers
which we had recently purchased with a
view to arranging some cheap evening
toilets over two old silk skirts.
Il believe l have been doing the same
thing with the children" sighed Mrs.
Lorton.
II believe you have,' smiled her
friend, for only last Sunday heard
Jenny tell her sister, very gravely, that
mamma was going to lengthen her blue
silk by putting on new hounce."
THAT was my plan.
Eyes, and then the blue silk would
demand plush jacket, and that would
call for bonnet with ostrich plumes,
or some other bit of frail magnificence."
"What shall put on the girls?'
1.-TWO pretty tailor-made suits
"And waste the silk frocks because
they are a trifle short?"
Decidedly, or else they will waste a
great deal of money, and the children
be left without any suitable, serviceable
garments for half the occasions on which
they wish to 90 out.
Aunt Abby was growing very elo-
quent with her theme.
Il think" she said, 'that a great
many of the worries. the wrinkles and
the gray hairs that vex the days and de-
stroy the beauty of our American
matrons grow out of this very want of
harmony and arrangements in our
domestic affairs. Wealth has been be-
slowed so lavishly upon our American
people in the past: we have enjoyed so
much luxury, and gratifed our tastes and
longings so habitually, that as Nation
we know very little of domestic econ
omy. To use a rather vulgar saying, if
we economic anywhere we are apt
to "save at the spigot and let out
at the bung." We are wasteful in
our kitchens, extravaganza in our ward
robes and careless of our furniture.
Our attempts at saving when the neces-
sity comes suddenly upon us are apt to
be violent and spasmodic, and product
i've of very small results.
Aunt Abby smiled suddenly. Il re-
member one instance" she went on, in
explanation of her amused expression,
"when I proclaimed to my father, whose
household was the scene of my early ex-
periments in domestic economy, that for
the three last months l had not spent
but fifty cents a day for food, and with a
household of six. We'll, and what have
you now in the honse in the way of pro-
visionsp' he inquired, mildly. What
had l? I investigated my closets, and
found-well, an empty flour barrel, an
empty sugar barrel, butter tirkin with
scarcely pound of butter in it, no rice,
no soap, no starch, no potatoes, nc
coffee, no tea. In fact, had simply
gone on exhausting our supplies until
every thing had to be bought at once
My fifty cents per day had simply pait
for milk, meat, vegetables, and such
things as must be purchased day by day
shall never forget the glance of inquiry
wherewith my patient parent went ovel
my accounts, which read, January
February, March, fifteen dollars pei
month; April, sixty-tive dollars Oul
| income was very small one, and fol
sometime had to endure the Impotence
of tradesmen who kept asking when
would please settle that little bill?"
"Another of my mistaken fancies,
Aunt Abby proceeded, "was in REGARD
to laundry work. What is so pretty
about a house as white curtains, flint
toilet tables with muslin drapery, and 81
on? And the muslin costs so little.
Alas, yes! But when the bill of one dol
lar for each window comes in from som'
Celestial, and All Wang, or Chu Wah
or Lang Flu shakes his long queue ant
mus habee him moonee, then one be
gins to realize what luxuries these pur'
white hangings are.
"Another point where economy il
apt to press sorely is in the ente rtain
ment of ones friends. One does 81
long to give them something's little bet
ter than the ordinary fare, some ont
dainty dish to do them honor and t.
show what an accomplished housekeepel
and cook presides over the table! Blu
| when that dainty dish must be shared b!
all at the table, those terrible bills viii
show it if the luxury is often indulge(
in"
"But one must entertain one'
friends"
"Indeed one must. But then, if WI
reflect that it is affection for ourselves
and not the reputation OF our cuisine
that brings them, we shall feel les
solicitude about producing any culinar.
triumphs for their delectation.
"But, Aunt Abby" sighed Mrs. Lor
ton, "would not life be very drear.
with only brown stuff dresses. bare win
dows and diet of reast beef and cot
tage pudd;ngs?"
.No. think not. Luxuries cease t
be pleasures when they bring care ane
worry as to how they are to be paid fol
with them. Besides, there can be
great deal of variety in the stuff dresses
all drapery does not require semi-an
nual refreshing in the laundry; beef ant
cottage pudding are but two of thu
healthy, nourishing and inexpensive
varieties of food our markets provide
"But I must finish my sermon. 1t il
getting too long, and only that my au
dience is too polite to yawn, they would
certainly 10 so. l will simply sum up,
as old-fashioned ministers used to sa,
at the conclusion of 'eighthly.' If yol
want to economic, think well whethe
the thing you propose to do will not, il