The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-05-30
THE eOWSER FAMILY.
Mrs. u. Discusses the Ever Interesting
Topic Of Family Finances.

Mrs. i. Discusses the Ever Interesting
Topic OF Family Finances.
In spite OF what have written about
Mr.. Bowscr's short comings have nc
doubt that he compares favorably with
the average husband, and in some at
tributes know he cxccls Before our
marriage mother insisted that We sct-
tie one important question, viz, what
allowance was to have weekly. When
| preached the subject Mr.. Bowscr
promptly replied:
'.Hialf OF all have or earn is. or will
be. yours. When you want money you
will simply go to The family pocket
book and take it and use it as your
judgment dictates
When told mother what he said she
replied:
THAT is too generous. l never
knew a man to. make suc, an offer that
he didn't afterward pinch his wife
down to fifty cents week"
When the question incidentally came
up again, later on, Mr.. Bowscr took
occasion to observe:
There will always be money in the
house, and don't want to marry q wo-
man whom / could not trust to use it
for our best interest. 1t will belong to
you us much rs to me. and you need
never ask for dollar"
A few weeks after our marriage an
agent called at the house with some
fancy work, and took five dollars from
the wallet in the burcaa drawer and
made some purchases. That evening
when Mr.. Bowser came home l proudly
pointed to my tides and mats and
said:
Those were purchased with our
money. Mr.. Bowscr"
'.How our money!"
"Why, took a bill from the family
wallet"
You did! Who gave you permission
to fling my money around for gim-
cracks?'
doesn't half OF it belong to mc?',
mot by a long shot!'
''But before We were marYied you
said it would
That's in theory, OF course. I will
see that you are not tempted again.
When you want money ask me for it. l
can then put the amount down on my
cash-book and figure our expenses"
The next week | wanted new bon
net, and l asked Mr.. Bowser for fifteen
dollars
Fifteen what?" ~ gasped as he
looked up.
"DOllars." sAA
what for?'
ITO buy bonnet"
Fifteen dollars TO buy bonnet!
You must be crazy! l can't afford any
such extravaganza"
But you said you could trust my
Judgment"
Never did! No woman on earth
has judgment enough to use ten
dollar BILL"
And you said had only to ask you
when ! wanted money"
but ! meant to have explained to
you, Mrs. Bowser. There are times
when tho best Of us may be hard up.
Never ask mo at tax-time. Never ask
mo when l have coal to buy. Never
ask me in the spring when shall be
making repairs. Don't ask me during
tho holiday season. for then | am buy
ing presents. In fact. when l can
spare any money will give it to you
you asking.
but you once said wife must feel
mean without money. and that you be-
ieved in a weekly allowance pro-
Tested.
Il still say 50 and still believe so.
think it would be nose satisfac Glory to
both OF us. Mrs. Bowse-. name the
sum you are willing to take
For pin-money?'
.'Of course. Women arc always
little triaes, and shall give
you a weekly salary to buy them. How
much?
IL hardly know"
Gould you get every thing on s. a
wcek?n
II think could"
very well. This is Saturday Here's
your salary. When Saturday comes
hold out your hand for your money. /
don't believe in wife crawling and
begging for money.
Tho next week | held out my hand
and my salary was promptly handed
over. but when the succeeding Saturday
arrived Mr.. Bowser observed:
Lets see! You have had $40. l
presume every rod cent Of it has been
squandered. Let's figure little and see
what you have bought"
But wasn't it mine, to use az /
thought best?"
Theoretically, yes; but should you
becomes spendthrift who would be re-
sponsble for it? The possession of
plenty OF money has been tho ruina-
ton of many women"
''Never ruined man. suppose?"
Possibly, but that's not the ques-
lion. Let us figure. !"
$50 We will. Mr.. Bowser! Your in
come last week was $40. You gave
me s.. How have you used the rest?'
Are You crazy?' no gaspeI.
mo, sir! How did you use that
He looked at me a long time and
then handed me my salary and the sub
jcct was dropped. The next week. how
ever, he cut me down u dollar, and the
the second week got but two.
Ill don't understand" said as
looked mt Hle bill.
''lt's all can spa'c"
Then it's ali right, and Ill try and
mako it do"
At the end of the sixth or seventh
week | asked for my salary and ar
rears, and Mr. Bowser jumped up and
.What salary? What arrears? If
you want money why don you ask for
1t, the same rs othc" wives do. VIVA.
n vss,i fpv iotr ~ 4 afc'