The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1890-09-20

How They Manage to Save Money on riS"
noIIurs N Week,

How Ihey manage 10 ShFp
Dollars n Week.
Tho question is asked ovcr and over
again, GLOW do girls, who are employed
in stores and shops at small salaries
live?'
1t would DO surprising to know the
number who manage to exist on 50 a
week, and who have discovered the ART
of making 81 go as far as 81 would Or
dinarily.
Save up money on So a week." asks
some i~ncredulous person.
There are not many, it must be adj
mitted, but four poor girls, each one
working from y o'clock in the morning
until q at night, three IA salesglris and
tho other in a shop, have for two years
been trying tho plan OF cooperative
housekeeping, which promises to be-
come a perfect system for working
women who can not afford to board at
the place they prefer, or become dls-
satisfied when they undertake to try
cheaper places.
When the store where three OF the
! friends work has closed for tho day they
three proceed to the nearest corner
where they are met by the other mem
ber Of the family, and tho four walk
home together.
Having heard of the pleasant times
which these girls have at their apart
ments. and being DESTROYS OF seeing for
herself how the plans are carried out
the writer, by special invitation, recent
ly took an evening meal with them.
The house Is on a side street within
easy walking distance of down town and
the room up two flights. The latter Is
a large apartment and has three win
dows, which are prottily draped with
dotted muslin tied back with yellow rib
bons. The walls are tinted with a pale
cream color and tho whole interior
showed the good taste of the occupants.
A folding bed of cabinet shape, in the
front o. which is 4 long mirror, and a
? broad couch which is also a bed, two
easy chairs, one rocker, and several
9 other chairs are all the larger pieces OF
= furniture.
, In front OF the door leading to the
side room, which is used as a kitchen, is
q large screen, evidently of home manu-
{ facture, but decidedly ornamental.
Is Two sets Of shelves adorn the spaces
> between the windows, and these are
y filled with books. There are also a few
x good pictures hung about. and on the
u m~antelpieco are little ornaments and
IS pretty things, watched over by q small
S bust Of Dickens on a bracket.
y While the writer was admiring thu
o neatness of the room and praising thu
20 general appearance, one of tho girls haC
set tho table.
" There was no array OF sill liver, but tn,
" dishes were dainty, although Their
~ we're not many Of them and the foo
- WAS not spoiled by apologies, and every
% thing passed off smoothly, for all wer
hungry.
" After awhile the cost of the meal wa
10 considered, and found to be just S cents
This did not include sugar, butter c
~ coffee, the former costing the girls
mr. cents a week, the butter about so con
in and the coffee the same. Two cans
I'd condensed milk at Is cents each bring
or total up to STAG.
OF At the end OF the week the girls maxi
20 up their cash accounts, and the expense
of the family amount to about S4.SO c
an average. They hire tho room u
furnished, with the exception of Il
lIy beds, and consequently are able to hi
at the low price OF $l2 n month.
ed In the side room which has been me
toned Is running water, and ma
,rs shelves have beer built in" to MAJ
To- things more convenient for the nous
an keepers.
sm The gas-stove, bought at n bargain,
&C set on q little raised platform in t
be corner, which is covered with a neat q
To- cloth.
Tinware is hung up all about, a
ed every thing looks as orderly as possib
nd They do not find time for many fan
dishes, but they have plenty OF who
,lic some food and appear to onjoy thorouf
ly their manner Of living.
to Occasionally they arc invited out
aid spend Sunday or to tea during the wet
but they feel very much at home
ere their cosy room which they have oc'
! to pied together SO long, and think tn
lie. friends who have such doleful exp'
Wis., encos in hunting up boarding places o
Who irving to live on small salaries wo
the be much more contented If they tr
the cooperative housekeeping. Bos
md Elpha