The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-08-13
EDIToE's CHAT.

FDITOE's CHAT.
sensfble Housekeeping-How Mr. All"
Beecher Began Lilo.
SENSIBLE HOUSEKEEPING.
a writer upon the marriage question '"'es
che fact that with the growth OF our e'''es '''"
increase of luxuries marriages are becoming
less frequent and are contracted az iifue"
later period of life.
while not contendinc for the too early mar
rage. the fact yet remains that wiea she ~"
salaries of our young men and the increase
-dema,ds Of our young women. it rs almost ih-
rossible for them to enter the marrisge re'ailoH
carly and discharge their mutual obiigations 10
each other aud their families.
Rut why should our young people hold SO
strenuously TO the mistaken view that IL is
necessary to their social standing ana sea
spect to begin where their fathers and mo'hers
are leaving off? Why will they hold theihseis
aloof from marriage and deny themselves 'he
,rivilare and Measure that comes from mutuai
selesacrifce that come from simple anu
economic beginning?
IT isnot those who are struggling to Keep up
a false STOW. who are living beyond their mea"s
and soaring their conscience with unpa'o oei's'
win are roaming the best rewards OF the CO
lucrative industry called marriage. i"e "eso
stock in lra.ie for young couple 10 siaf' ou0
win l. nl,.aty of old fashioned love, backed ny
independence and economy -,
II is this that develops strong and iofc,o'e
characters: the fathers and mothe's =.
sterling and rugged race. The prettiest picture
that comes 10 mind la this connection is ,hat OIL
a story told by Mrs. Henry Ward Beecher, Q,
how she and her afterward-fsmous naspa"u
began housekeeping in the West on Q saiars Vi
about S25 a month.
Let the &C and LH.W. whose motto Is
Progress and Patriotism, read the story anu
make personal applications OF its lessons: Al
ii is the sum and substance OF the " plain iifiHg
and high thinking" which should character
izr very son snd daughter of our great he
public:
I'VE spent the first six weeks with FRIEND
but changes IN tho family made II necessary 10
a geek some more independent mode OF living;
Boarding was too expensive, and wouio use ga
opr small income Conld we keep honse On
Eat income? You have sufficient furniture 70
Irnish one ROOM We had nothing. We cohlo
iot afford to rent a whole house. After iohe
searching we found two rooms-but suen '"oh's
They had been occupied by laboring men. WITH
out a womam's care. and were dirty past ae'
scriling ] knew what soap and water, WIN d
willing sririt. coa!d do to purify and freshen
as willing hands aad much stronger arm, IighV
ened the work wonderfully with his energy
and great good hnmor. He made orr hfsi
housecleaming time never TO be forgotten.
''Once cleaned. 30 furnish the ROOMS was t!if
next question. 4 cook stove a small square o
al old carpet that Just covered the mlhole o.
the room. An old bnreaa pair OF candIestlckS
a dozen plates half dozen ours aud saucer
aud knives and forks were given us. We
hunted I'D a study table and chair Tor MT
Beecher. a single beslstsai, brass lamp IRON
among the good -EoIhings found I'D th'
Seminary yard. cleaned and polished them ahe
sent them from the Seminary 10 our nome
Among other rubbish in that refuse mat "a
thrown out TO be burned were three shei ies
the remnants of an old bookcase. These wer'
cleaned aud vanished aud placed back oil th'
study table. The top of the table was covered
with the weli-cieansed remains OF an Old Goa
found also among the dehris of college days
Now, what country parsonr9Gld :s6 ieF NOR
convenient shady table han this?
"A very cheap Table covered with an OF
shawl half a dozen wood-sea,ea chairs, a chea
bedslesd husk mattress AMI pillows complete
what WIS TO he the pastor study and our pario
and bedroom. The small room was to be tn
Kitchen and in il the stove WAS placed
There WAS sink IN the room. and iroT
two old boards found among the fuel a cove
was made which shut Gown over the sink an
BILE A wire across one corner of the room, o.
which was a curtain Of four-eent calico. mad
q half rireie. wire through the hem of III
curtain and linked into staples at each corne
held il firm like Partition. Here on benc
in one corner the tubs and washboiler wer
placed. The fonF barrel aud other stores, we
projected. were ia the opposite corner.
The single bed redeemed from the rabb's
OF the college and scrubbed and vanished, NJ
placed in the back part OF this second ROOD
,our long poles screwed into the corners.
ercmg wire on which curtain Of calico w;
fastened inio the s'Anics at the top Of the pei
this wa. OR wardrobe when he had no cor
many, aud our garments were hooked 20 II
wire inside. But if company came TO stay or
night The garments were folded, pot inio truni
and slipped under the bed. and our double be
villa its hnsk mattress and pillows. was givf
20 our guests while we adjourned 10 the kite
ell clothes closet aud single bed.
This gives you the full list OF orr belon
ings aud here VIC passed the first year of o
married life. There never and never c.
be happier year. / did all our work-was
ing ironin. cooking, AMI sewing. ii was SON
times hard at first, but, having been taught
my mother the valBe Of systematic labor,
Boon learned 10 do al the work aud have ma
spare houts Tor other important work"