The advocate., 1894-11-14
PRACTICAL IDEAS.
HOW TO PRACTICE REASONABLE
ECONOMY IN THE HOUSEHOLD.

When the Time Comes to Plan without
Pinohing-Legitimat Uses That May Be
Made of the Surplus.
Foreign writers on domestic economies
declare that Americans have no idea OF
comfort 1t is at least suggestive in this
connection to remember that The Co.
lumbian Association of Housekeepers"
have discovered that the American family
spend larger proportion Of their income
upon their clothing than on their homes,
and more for the furnishings of their par
lors 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 laces, diamonds and hand
some furs should be the last or crowning
expression of prosperity, not the first in
diCatiOns of success. A we'll appointed
home is the only suitable background for
rich and expensive clothing, and woman
makes not only q financial mistake, but
as aesthetic blunder, when she encourages
her husband to give her elegant ornaments
before she is able to dress in keeping with
them. In the third place, it is wise to re-
member that ''the life is more than meat
and the body than raiment." There is no
more proper use to which to devote the
surplus than that of saving the strength
and well being Of the housewife. 1t is
better to have competent, we'll trained
maid at increased wages than to be tor
mented with cheap labor and consoled
with plush chairs in the parlor.
Granted, however, that the housewife
does stay in the old, plain home until,
without anxiety or debt, she can move to
q handsome house on more fashionable
street, and there yet remains a surplus.
What shall she do with itP
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 as possible her table plen-
ishings, for several reasons-hrst, for the
educational effect upon her children; Sec
ond, for the more perfect exercise Of the
grace Of hospitality, and, third, for the
reason that, when the new home comes, it
is the greatest Of helps to have suitable
collection of table furnishings to place in
1t.
Furniture desirable for one house Is oft
en- very ugly in another and will look
shabby when surrounded by new wood
work and walls, and no matter how good
a shopper the housewife may be she will
regret investing in curtains and portieres
that in year or more are hopelessly out
Of fashion. Good silver, like wine, i'm
proves with age Start your 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 dozen of medium size,
then, when you can afford it, dozen
large, massive ones, and relegate the for
mer to breakfast tea and dessert use. Two
dozen Of each are not too many Then
buy knives Of two sizes and table and
teaspoons to correspond. When you have
secured a 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 in SO called complete decorated sets"
buy silver plated vegetable dishes, soup
plates, platters 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 the close of the meal. By
selecting the plainest designs a set may be
purchased one piece at time, and yet
make harmonious whole. Two platters,
one tureen, two oval and two round dishes
viii meet the demands of the ordinary
family. The round dishes are equally suit
able for puddings and entrees, and by
buying two porcelain pans for each dish
can easily be made to do extra 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, tongs, tea