St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-10-20

anre Ces.sea fse 1Aess Jase Setting o.
= Married Lie.
| No class in any community needs
help more than tho army Of young
housekeepers who are trying their best
TO make limited income cover the
thousand and one expenses of daily
life. They blame themselves because
. dollar does not hold more than one
hundred cents, and anxiously plan how
they may meet necessary expenses and
also put something by for rainy
day. When first married the husband
may have set aside whatever sum could
be afforded for living expenses At
first this seemed more than sufficient
The housewife had been able to lay
aside a little occasionally, and she had
not felt that horrible helplessness
which the lack of ready money brings.
But after two years everything is
changed. The demands of one week
encroach upon the next. and the saving
of even a penny is impossible.
ally overlooked, especially by the hus-
band, and that is that while the al
lowance made to the wife remains sta
tionary, the demands upon it are con-
stantly on the increase. The sum that
proved abundant for the first two
years of housekeeping proves INSULT
cient for the third or fourth. During
the first year little. if any, new cloth
ing was required; for some time the
trousseau acted as a basis from which
ut small expense gowns, hats and
cloaks might be evolved. At that time,
also, tho furniture and kitchen uten-
sis being new, repairs and additions
amounted to q very small sum. Often,
too, there comes a little stranger to the
home, necessitating larger bills. The
allowance remaining the same the
wants of three must now be met by it.
The husband does not always realize
that while he works no harder compar-
atively one year than another. each
year of married life brings to the wife
new experiences and increasing duties.
He should be thoughtful enough to in
crease the household allowance ac-
corllingly. When an additional dollar
can not be afforded would say to the
wife: Cease to reproach yourself for
your inability to perform impossible
ties. Do not worry so much about that
| rainy day. as to allow it to darken
sleepless nights will surely hasten its
coming. If You are unable to increase
your bank account and at the same
time provide nutritious food for your
family, let the bank account go. There
is no economy in semi-starvation. Your
children are investments. Their sturdy
limbs and rosy cheeks promise . better
provision for the future than the saw
ings bank. Money spent on them IN
the right and proper way will yield
good interest. Avoid experiments in
your housekeeping. Give a wide berth
TO beguiling advice in regard to the
home manufacture of furniture. About
one woman in a thousand has mechan-
ical skill enough to make an article OF
furniture worth having.
There are many receipts which on
the surface appear economical, but ex-
perience proves them to be either un-
palatable or requiring SO many acces
series as to equal, If not exceed, in the
end the cost of a good steak or roast.
American husbands will not live upon
made dishes So il you value your
own peace and your husbands good
will you will not read too much about
the saving grace of sauces and season
ings.
Knowing how, when and where to
buy are three secrets of thrift. A SER
want, however tried and trusted, should
not be allowed to make household pur-
chase. The housewife should deal de
rectly with the tradesmen If she
wishes to receive the full value of her
money.
Some authorities advocate buying
everything in bulk. This is not possi- |
BILE, however, in the ordinary house |
hold, it, as a rule, having no suitable |
place for storing large supplies
Coal. kindling wood, flour and soap
should, if possible, be purchased in
bulk, while coffee, tea and sugar in |
quantities ranging from five to four
teen pounds will strike happy medi- |
um between the ruinous hand-to-mouth |
methods of supply and the evils of stor-
age. 1t is astonishing how prices vary
within the radius of few blocks. Be
coming welded to one shop is disad- |
vantage, as in one block you may find
things of the same quality selling for |
less than in another. Consultation
with q reputable coal dealer and laying
in the winters supply in March, April
or August, will lessen the years ex-
rI