The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1899-02-10
ECONOMICAL HABITS.

That which is a luxury to one man
is necessity to another, not because
the men are differently constituted, but
because of the habits they have formed.
Relatively rich people suffer from hard
times almost as much as the poor; they
may not suffer from cold or hunger,
but from the loss OF things to which
they have been accustomed. A man
vino has lived at the rate of ten thous-
and a year feels poor when reduced to
two thousand, though the latter income
would appear almost fabulous to the
workingman who contentelly provides
tor large family on less than half the
amount This difference is largely
matter of habit, and it is conducive to
happiness to maintain habit of life
we'll within ones income, so that aG-
versit.y may not require a radical
change. The poor and people of even
moderate means are compelled to be
economical if they would avoid falling
in debt: it is those who have good i'll
comes who need to be admonished to
practice economy. They need not lie
penurious or deny themselves any rat
ional enjoyments, but they should es-
tablish such an economical habit as
would enable them to retrench without
discomfort if loss of income should re-
quire it. The influence Of such an en-
ample upon the children of a family is
useful. for children ought to be trained
to habits of thrift. The child who is
given money for the asking and allowed
to spend it freely may he ruined 10y the
indulgence. He quickly forms habits
bad in themselves. from which he can
not easily divorce himself when he is
thrown upon his own resources. No
natter what his expectations may be.
he should be taught to live well within:
his income and to spend his money
with good judgment. Where this
parental duty is neglected the spoiled
child may be rendered unhappy in his
adult life or be driven into criminal
career. Very many of the crimes a
gainst property are committed by young
men who are not in actual want. They
have enough to eat and homes TO shell
ter them, but they have wants of an
other kind hich cannot be satisfied bv
the fruits of honest labor They are
the victims of habits fostered by over
indulgence and 10y failure to instill
in their minds habits of economy. OBJ
lection is sometimes made to any sug-
gestion of economy because it is con
founded with penuriousncs>. This is
not well-foundcd objection. 1t is curl
Gus to observe that it is the economical
only who have any surplus with which
to help others; the men who are known
as generous, open-handed fellows are
generally sclf-indulgent and have
nothing left for charity. There are
economical persons who are also pen
urious, but there is no necessary con-
nection between the two habits. The
truly economical man is, in the first
place, honest. He does not spend more
than he gets, nor enter into obligations
he cannot fulfill. In this respect he is
a better man than the generous fellow
who entertains his friends while cheat.
ing his creditors. The economical
man keeps an eye upon the future and
through his savings provides for his
old age, and in this respect also he is
better than the liberal man who. hav.
ing squandered his income, becomes =
burden upon his friends or upon the
community. Moreover, the economical
man keeps his tastes and passion un
der control, so that he forms no eXpen
sive habits, the abandonment of which
i'm case of failure of income woult
render him unhappy. The measure o
economy which the individual shoult
practice varies with income and tn,
demand upon it, but it should alway:
be such as to enable him to live honest
ly and to make some preparation TO
the time when he may be unable t.
earn a living. He should live within
H.,
sive habits that he may not be able t,
sustain.-Bnt'morc SIM.