The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-04-25
The True Sphere of Economy.

Most books of practical ethics devote
much space to intoxicating economy. The
spirit, If not the letter, of Poor Richard
maxims colors much of their instruction.
But it is fair question whether many Of
these eXhortations to economy are based
upon thorough and candid study of what
that virtue is.
For instance, the mere saving Of money
by the avoidance of expenditure is not nee
essarily economy. A house, for example.
demands certain yearly outlay in the
way of repairs and if these are neglected
for term of years the sum needed to put
it in proper condition will probably be
much greater than the aggregate of the
small amounts needed from year to year
to keep it in order.
Neither is the saving of money by deny
ing ones self or ones family the things
that are necessary to physical well being.
and without which the average tone OF
health and comfort is lowered, an econ
omy. Take it, for instance, in the master
of domestic service A man might save
few dollars a week by dismissing the serV.
ant girl. His wife, by early rising auG
longer hours, might be able to struggle
through the family work. But most con
siderate husbands will reason that what
they save in dollars their wives lose 10
health and buoyance of spirits and the OPP
portunity of leisure, and that it is no econ
omy to throw upon the shoulders OF Il wife
additional work and care so long as it can
possibly be avoided
Nor is it necessarily economy to do
without the means of intellectual and
moral cultivation. 1t is no economy to
give up church attendance to save the pew
rent, to stop the usual supply of whole
some family reading or to withhold ones
hand from assisting those who are less
fortunate than ourselves. Money spent
for these things ministers to the higher
life within us, and it never will be eco
nomical to starve that life.
What, then, is the true sphere of econ
omy? Is it not in those useless things
which minister simply to pride and dis
play or that please the senses without con-
tributing to the well being of the whole
manY 1t is far better for woman to be
out of the fashion, If her garments are tidy
and wearable, than to have a new dress
with the latest style of leg of mutton
sleeves, and be obliged, because she has
it, to dismiss her servant girl and to have
her nerves and health and temper worn by
the too severe strain of household drudg-
cry. 1t is far better for a man to deny
himself the small Injuries, upon which
men are tempted to spend much, than to
curtail the intellectual and moral resources
of his household by cutting off books and
papers and church attendance.
We are always seeking to save some
thing for 'rainy day" but, strangely
enough, we do not recognize the rainy day
when it comes and keep thinking that it
is going to rain still harder We admire
the wisdom of friend who said: 81 am
out of work, and probably shall be for
few months, but | have laid by few
hundreds for rainy day, and my life is
insured. am going to earn what money
l can. am going to be economical, but
what / fail to earn toward meeting my
expenses | shall take out of my "rainy
day" store. am not going to starve or
beg or have my wife break down by over
work | am not going to have my boy
give up his dream of going to college. ]
am not going to give up my contributions
to the church | saved the money for
rainy day, and now that it rains am go
ing to useit. 1t will clear Oft after awhile,
and then l shall replenish my store -
Boston Waterman.