The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-04-07

very we'll; on 30 cents one would have
as much as he could ask, and 40 cents
would be ample. Those sums cover
only the cost of raw material. But it
takes a $4,000 woman to keep a family
on $500 a year. (Laughter) So don't
cut your family down to nine cents per
capita till you know how to do it.
Twenty-Five per cent of ones income
for rent is an eXtravagant outgo; 20
per cent is as much as one should pay,
but it is difficult for young couples on
an annual income Of $4,000 to keep this
balance, for almost invariably they
want to live in the same places as peO-
pie Of twice their means. One-half the
rent would be the right proportion to
pay Tor service in the hOuse-such
as Is necessitated by big call
ing list the telephone, the bric-a-
pfac, etc. Fifteen per cent for
clothes would be fair expenditure.
Light and heat should be included in
the expenditure on animal comforts,
and the total amount should come
within % per cent. What shall we do
with the remaining 20 per cent? Spend
1t on the high things-books, pictures,
travel and the like" at,.r
Then Mrs. Richards told three funny
stories illustrative of women's stupid
lty in business. There was once man
who was to be absent for several
weeks, and left his checkbook with his
wife. Well said he, when he got
back, I suppose you used up all your
money!" 90, nc" replied she, L have
several checks left yet" And then
there was the lady who, while her hus-
band was away took his checkbook
and signed his name to a check, in pay
ment Of bill that had been presented,
The money was paid, but the treasurer
or the bank came around post haste to
inquire into the business. why not?"
asked she. My husband has often told
me that what is his is mine" Finally,
there was bank presidents wife who
was in her husbands office one day,
when he was called out, leaving big
roll of notes on his desk. She wanted
some money. so she picked up the roll
and went out. The loss was imme-
diately discovered and great was the
dlsmay. Afterwards, hearing the af-
fair discussed, she gayly and inno-
Gently acknowledged taking it. You
always told me l could have all the
money | wanted. l wanted some, so 1
took it"
In conclusion, Mrs Richards said:
A new occupation has come into be-
ing for women-to learn how to spend
money so as to get the most comfort
eAAlN lltclGbLG AluL vi H.
The discussion that followed was one of.
the amusing things Of the day. The es-
sayist was asked if she had made any
provision for rainy day in her sub
division OF an income. She said that
was included in the % per cent for the
hlgner life. What per cent ought a
family to save? Well if they did not
travel and We're not i'll, Is or 20 per cent
OF the income. Would she keep the
same proportion in all incomes? Yes.
Ihen some one questioned the cent
appropriation for food and Mrs. Rich
ards enlarged on the cereals. vege~
tables, peas, beans and cheap beef that
could be got. But, she added, it takes
a $4,000 woman to do it. One woman
asked Mrs. Richards if she had ever
seen a person after six months Of 9
cents day fare. and Mrs. Richards
said she had, and she wasn't s1el-
etOn, either.
At this juncture a lady in the north
east corner of the church testified that
she had lived on 9 cents a day for a
month and she never felt better in her
life. voice from the opposite side Of
the church: She ought to have a
prize" followed by a shrill inquiry
from the back pews, why did she
stop at the end of the month";" Then
the tide of popular favor turned, the
president observing severely that the
human machine must be kept in order
II it was going TO work, while Mrs.
Elizabeth Merritt Gosse of the Boston
Herald remarked caustically that she
did not believe in Mother Hubbard's
cupboard. A Fitchburg lady wanted to
know how servants would like a 81
cent daily fare, and the session ad-
iourned to a violet strewed repast I'M
der hangings of violet.
Nine new clubs were received into
viz. Quinshipaug WOmans
Club, Milford represented by Mrs Ha-
0arO; Woman's Club, Aver; Woman's
Club, Littleton; Brockton Woman's
Club; New England Bradford Academy
Club; Anna Ticknor Library Associa-
ton, Boston; Riverside Club, Saugus:
Waban WOman's Club, and Woman's
Club. Winchendon.
The two addresses Of the afternoon
were by Mrs. Alice n. George Of Brook
line, who offered "A possible solution of
the domestic problem and Prof. Ed
ward Cummings Of Harvard University
upon The relation Of the domesfis
problem to the present industrial sim
alton Mrs. George who will be re
membered as one of the speakers a r
the Woman's Club last week. was hard J