The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-15
HOME AND FIRESIDE.
SELECTIONS ESPECIALLY FOR THE
FAMILYCIRCLE
The Economy Of HappIness--The Families OF
Women Who Save Everything but Them
PLAYING for Women.

II is so usual to associate economy with
material things that one is in danger of for
getting that economic principles may be ap'
piled with equal advantage TO matters Of the
mind and heart This is too commonly the
neglected realm in the jurisdiction Of the busy
American wife and mother. Engrossed with
economic measures to bring prosperity and
happiness to her family, many woman be-
comes too careless about her own comfort aud
convenience. She finds it easier to do without
things that she wants than to ask for them;
more congenial TO serve herself no matter how
weary she may be- than 10 let her desires be
known to husband brothers or children. IL
fact she reduces the habit Of denying hef-elt
TO n kind Of system. quite unaware mean
while that in consequence happiness j. slip
ping out of her life, and he sunshine leaving
her face.
Such economy" is great mistake. and the
pathetic part Of il all is that 1t so often fals OIL
its object Indeed, IL is a tOlerably well es-
tabished fact that the families OF women VINO
save everything except themselves, are more
or less peeyish, exacting and illnatured.
Nor can this result be attributed altogether
10 ngratitude on the part Of the subjects OF
mistaken kindness. Excessive unselhslin"ss
is inclined 10 react disastrously on the mind
and temper of one who INDUCES IN It. ESpe-
cially is this true when those for whom sacrl-
fees have been made are undemonstTative IN
their appreciation. Human nature, It woula
seem, can only endure in silence TO limited
extent When the self-imposed burden be-
comes too heavy. or when consciousness be-
comes active as IL is almost sure TO do sooner
or later. the self-sacrihcing wife, mother, or
sister. economic of everything except her
own hearts coin. realizes the vanity Of her
endeavor and in her helplessness succumbs to
irrtabilitv, super-sensitiveneSs and other
morbid states of mind that tend 10 make her
presence anything hut a pleasure To those
with whom she comes in contact. She cannot
make people happy, for happiness must be
possessed before it can he bestowed
"Zeus hates people who try to do too much. "
was a current saving among the Greeks. and
there is a deep and sound wisdom beneath the
apparent cruelty of the idea. Dong Is not
the whole of life. though 50 many people APP
pear To think il IL. We must be. as well as
do and often il j. not 50 much what mother
can do for her children as what she can he TO
them.
Children are not naturally Indifferent 10
kindness. or ungrateful for favOrs. II they be-
come so, it is usually owing to the mistaken
kindness of parents who ignore of discourage
the first efforts of the little ones to recipro-
cate kindness. Mothers do well 10 accept all
little offices Of help. and TO encourage by open
and loving recognition every little kind act
and word Benevolence is developed in "a
child just rs its intellectual faculties are de-
veloped-by appealing 10 II IN way TO bring
il into activity The mother who never wants
anything done for her. who thoughtlessly says
Never mind me" does not act for her childs
true interest. ladies Home journal.