The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-07
PRACTICAL IDEAS.
HOW TO PRACTICE REASONABLE
ECONOMY m TIE HOUSEHOLD.
The Pleasant Realization Of . Surplus.
When tho Time Con.es to Plan without
Pinching- Legitimate Uses That May Be
Made OF the surplus.

Foreign writer's on domestic economies
declare that Americans have no idea Of
comfort. IL Is at loast suggestive In this,
connection To remember that THE CO.
luinbian Association of Housekeepers''
havo discovered that the American family
spend larger proportios1f their income
upon their clothing than on their homes,
and more for the furnishings Of their par
lars than for the proper equipment Of their
kitchens. The second point, therefore for
the housewife TO consider Is that the legiti-
mate use of the surplus Is TO increase the
comfort OF her home, not the splendor OF
her own personal belongings. In other
words dainty laoes, diamonds and hand
some furs should be tho last or crowning
expression of prosperity, not the first In
dicltions of success. A well appointed
home Is the only suitable background for
rich and expensive clothing and a woman
makes not only financial mistake but
Us aesthetic blundcr, when she encourages
her husband to give her elegant ornaments
before she Is able 10 dress In keeping with
them. In the third place, IL Is wise to re-
member that "fhe life Is more than meat
and the body than raiment." There Is no
moro proper use 10 which 20 devote tho
surplus than that of saving tho strength
and woll being Of the housewife Ii Is
better To lave "A competent, well trained
maid at increased wages than 10 be tor
montod with cheap labor and consoled
with plush chairs In the parlor.
Granted, however, that tho housewife
does stay in the old, plain home until,
without anxiety or debt, she can move to
handsome house on more fashionable
street, and there yet romans surplus.
What shall she do with lts
First remembering Mrs. Whitney's say
ing, Elegant serving Is the soul of liv-
ing" let her increase and beautify To as
great an extent ns possible her table plen-
ishings, for several rcasons-flrst, for the
educational effect upon her children; sec
ond, for the more perfect exercise Of the
gTnee of hospitality, and, third, for the
reason that, when the new home comes, 10
is tho greatest Of helps 20 have suitable
collection uf table furnishings to place in
II.
Furniture desirable for one house Is oft
On very ugly IN another and Will look
shabby when surrounded by new wood
work and walls, and 10 matter how good
shopper the housewife may be she will
regret investing in curtains and portieres
that in u year or more are hopelcssly out
proves with age. Start yonr collection not
with the souvenir after dinner coffee
spoons of the day for occasional use, but
with forks that are necessity at least
twice day Buy a dozen of nsiium size,
'hen, when you can afford it, dozen
large, massive ones, and relegate the for
mor to breakfast. tea and dessert use. Two
dozen of each are not too many. Then
buy knives of two sizes and table and
teaspoons Co correspond When you have
secured proper, practical equipment in
this direction, consider the matter of the
larger articles Of furnishing. Instead Of
putting money in fragile china or invest
ing ia so called complete decorated sets"
buy silver plated vegetable vishes, soup
plates, plattors and tureen. Their first
cost is not much greater than that of good
china. They will last lifetime and are
especially desirable because they keep their
contents hot to tho close of the meal BY
selecting the plainest designs set may loo
purchased one piece at "a time, and yet
mako "A harmonious whole Two platters,
one tureen, two oval and two round dishes
viii meet tho demands of the ordinary
family. The round dishes are equally suit
abe r0F pusdings and entrees, and by
buying two porcelain pans for each dish
can easily be mado 10 oextra duty. After
these purchases are made accessories may
be secured in the shape of after dinner
coffee and orange spoons, oyster. fish and
salad forks, with sugar sitter, toncs, tea
ball anu cheese SCOOP There are almost
countless dainty little things which cost
less than sidy or painted milk stool
adorned with ribbons, the possession Of
which stamps you a. "a cultivated, refined
housewife, and without which your table,
no matter where IL may be spread, will
lack that air of refinement so essential to
good serving In spite of allurements of
harlequin sets in bright coloring there is
nothing moro satisfactory than gold and
white china la Copeland, Wedgwood or
Mntura.
Crystal is an investment never regretted
by the prudent woman. 1t should often
- substituted for silver, especially where
absolute cleanliness is hard to attain Re
ceptaclos for sauces, conserves, milk and
butter should be of this ware, and there is
no more beautiful salad set to be found
tAan IA cut glass bowl, with plates to cor
respond. These plates may be purchased
separately, and in the end will not cost
any moro than those OF handsome china.
After the table is furnished there are
two other SOURCES 20 which the surplus
may bo directed with profit The first is
the purchase of good pictures. These
should never be bought TO fill up space
on the wall, but for their intrinsic worth.
Nothing So hetrays a lack of culture or Its
possession as the character OF the pictures
10 be seen in the home 1t is better to have
one good painting, which age will improve
and tho growing reputation of tho artist
increase in value, than TO have your walls
crowded with impossible water colors i'm
gorgeous frames and cheap etchings and
crayons which are simply the fad Of the
hour. BY frcqucnting galleries and
studios, instead Of blindly relying upon
the stock of the so called art departments
Of dry goods stores, you can buy often at
the same cost picture which will be n Joy
forever, instead Of n miserablo makcshift.
Rugs are satisfactory things in which to
store some OF the housewives savings For
tho Ordinary purchaser the Anatolinn,
Cnrabagh, D"S estan and Cashmere are
The best. Aeo ,..id service give them vel
Nety sheen ana subdue their coloring To ar