The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1899-12-09
The
Economical Wife.

marry when their incomes, tnough
not large, would yet admit OF the
luxury Of wife, is because they are afraid
to take girls out OF luxurious homes, where
every wish is gratifed, and girls grown up
in modest household are not to their taste.
The general idea undoubtedly is that for
men of very moderate means the proper
wives are girls who have been brought up
in "small way and who have learned
how to make dollar go as far as possible,
and are adopts at economy in things great
and small. But experience often points to
the opposite, says the Philadelphia Times.
1t is the girl accustomed to wealth who
makes the best poor mans wife. Given
good health, clear head and determine
tion to make the best of things she nearly
always becomes a real helpmate, and not
drawback. She knows what money will
do, and what it will not, and is more care,
full than her poorer sister, who, having
been pinched all her life, thinks two thou
sand dollars year riches, expecting the
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dreams But the rich mans daughter
thinks the income so enthusiastically small
that the greatest economy must be prac-
tioed. She does not sigh for the unattain-
able, for having tasted most of the delights
money brings, and found them unsatisfy
ing, she is quite happy to settle down to
pnint life with tho IN xphpp cha has
given her heart. She has no dread of Clos
ing CASTE from doing little household
duties, or being found by her friends thus
engaged. The novelty of the whole thing
amuses her lar more than round of gay
cites did, when, dressed in smart clothes,
she hurried from one party to anothtr,
meetins nearly always the same people,
who did not interest her in the least.
OF course, she will have much to learn.
f'Rome was not built in day. nor is
perfect housewife made in a few years.
But now that the highest in the land I'M
dergo a regular training in household man
agement, she will readily find means Of
oCihS ihSbi uStth III eSlChOt, anu 81
equipped for her new position, she joyfully
goes to be "a minstering ANGEL in good
mans small house, and desires only to be
learned in gracious household ways"
knowing her natural vocation is to be a
good wife, and, perhaps, later on, good
mother.
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has been able to travel, so she neither longs
for a summer in Norway, nor a winter on
the Riviera. She has enjoyed these pleas,
ures, but finds her own tiny home more
full Of interest and quite as comfortable as
a gorgeous suite Of rooms in foreign
hotel. In her own supreme domain she
work, while her poorer sister who has al
ways been household drudge, is never
happy unless she has someone to gossip
with in her leisure moments, for her tastes,
owing to lack of means, have never been
cultivated, nor love Of books gratified,
for the same reason and also for want of
eliiC 90 SbC luNl oO hGl ualAy III tub
Consequently the long hours of her hus.
band absence hang heavily on her hands,
and she often degenerates into a busybody
and scandal monger. The rich girl may
be able to say; my mind to me king
dom is" especially if it be we'll stored
with knowledge, and she has had that very
hn,t nf al Il tho OF pf al
cultivated people. She therefore enjoys an
afternoon in summer under the trees with
favorite book more than chat with
friend. Her tastes having been trained,
she finds real pleasure in spending few
hours at a picture gallery-a delight now
obtained without payment in many cases.
People who call find her pleasant and
interesting companion, and entertain her
and her husband with as much, if not more,
pleasure than they feel in receiving friends
who can give quid pro quo. They con-
slider her society more than an equivalent
for anything they can offer.
She gladly goes out, and feels no shame
at being only able to offer them a modest
cup of tea when they come to spend the af-
ternoOn She knows how little rich people
expect az the hands of their poorer neigh
bors, and gladly they sit down to simple
meal, enjoying the novelty and freedom
from all ceremony.
As the rich girl has been accustomed to
dainty things and pretty home, she will
strive to model her "petit menase" on the
same lines, only in miniature. There will
be full scope for her ingenuity, aud in its
exercise she will find real pleasure and de-
light. She has always had flowers in
abundance; now her small garden only af-
fords few raised by her own hands.
With quick eye to discern the beauty of
the hedges and woods, she supplements her
resources with bright berries and variegated
leaves, and in spring bring home violets
and primroses, which make her rooms fra
grant Her friends and relations hold up
their hands in establishment at daughter
Of luxury wishing to exchange wealth for
what they call poverty, but they may at
last concede that her choice has been justi-