The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-06-02
WOMAN'S
WORLD.

The question of the amount on which
a man and his wife can live per month
is attracting a good deal of attention III
different cities of the country. The New
York Journal says that in Kansas City
an interesting discussion has been going
on about how much money young man
should earn before marrying Clergymen,
business men and prominent women have
made estimates of all the way from $50 to
$50 a month.
"A young man can marry on $50 a
month if he gets the right kind of a girl.
1t isn't what the man makes, but what
the woman saves that counts" says Fa-
Their Dalton, pastor of the Church of the
Annunciation.
Il have never had case of genuine
poverty in my parish and know what
can be done The trouble now lies in the
spirit of extravaganza and display that
prevails. Twenty-nine years ago, when
everything was higher, men came here to
Kansas City and supported a wife on
S125 a day These men raised large fam
dies and some of them are now wealthy
citizens.
To-day young couple think they can
not start out in life without ostentation.
Instead of paying as they so they handi-
cap their life journey by the instalment
houses. The woman of to-day holds the
solution OF the question. Social conditions
are such that her life is drifting away
from household instincts. Where mothers
used TO come to me and ask me TO place
their daughters in good families where
they could work as domestics, they now
ask me to get them jobs in department
stores, and forget how to accommodate
themselves to the plain necessities of life.
Young men tell me they can't afford to
marry, and consequently the percentage
of matrimonial connections is decreasing.
why, a man and woman can live on
less than $50 and support family. OF
course it is an effort, but life is an effort
at best Everything is an effort.
During the Civil War when everything
was high, laborers supported families on
SIS month OF course there are allure
ments and extravagances now that did
not exist then.
"A man can worry through on $50 a
month if he finds a sensible woman who
will economize."
Mrs Gage of the Athenaeum says:
"A young man can live nicely on A6
a month il he wants to marry-dt depends,
of course, on the young man.
1T is the young man and his habits.
Just think what several fine cigars a day
amount to and similar expenses? Ger
tainly the young woman plays an import
ant part in the economical scheme, for
the majority are not properly trained for
housewives, but if a young man is ex-
travagant everything is lost.
i know of instances where young men
have married on $40 a month and lived
pleasantly"
Rev. s. A Northrup of the First Bap-
fist Church, expresses this opinion:
II have married LOO couples, and /
ought to know something on the subject.
Young people to-day want to start out on
the same scale that old people finish with.
There IS too much flourish and false as
pirations
mo young man should contemplate
matrimony until he has 500 saved A
young man can live. though, on $500 a
year, and If he marries the right kind of
a girl he can get along we'll"
G.. f. Damon. of the Provident Asso-
citation, has had plenty of opportunities
to study the economical situation, and his
views on the subject are based on per-
sonal observation.
The average couple will spend every
cent Of the salary" he says, whether II
be $50 or $40. OF course, have seen fami-
lies i've for less than $50 a month, but
that amount is the minimum on which |
think a young man should marry"
Between the girl that is "out" ana the
girl that 10 not ''out' there is a great
gulf. fixed by the unwritten laws of fash
9onable society. The latter is the grub
and the former the butterfly, says the
New York Tribune.
1t is really amusing to see the change
(Which Is, OF course, purely convention
aD that year win bring forth in a girl
of Is, remarked a man of the world re-
Gently. About year ago l stopped at
the Us, in Oldport After dinner, when
the men went into the dining room,
noticed tall, attractive looking young
woman gowned in a high muslin frock
whom l had not seen at dinner and to
whom l was not introduced. At first I
thought she might be a governess or
companion, as she seemed entirely grown
up; but upon inquiry ! was told she was
the second daughter of the house, who
was not out But she may be spoken
to? ! queried, rather Interested in meet
ing pretty, new species of womankind
Why, of course laughed her relative,
who had given me the information. L am
sure she VIII think it very nice of you
TO notice her. Thereupon 1 went up to
the young woman and tried to engage
her in conversation. Well i could hardly
get word or a look from the demure
maiden. She replied to all my observa-
tons in monosyllables and seemed so
painfully shy that 1 finally gave up the
attempt and left her to amuse herself
with her work which she had brought
with her into the drawing room.
During my visit, which lasted a week
1t was always the same 1 met Maud. as
they called her, frequently, but never
seemed to make any Roadway, and left
the house with the idea that she was
either exceedingly stupid or hopelessly
difident. So you can imagine my aston
ishment when this winter at a dance a
brilliant looking young woman beckoned
10 me from little distance. You do not
remember me. Mr.. Smith, she cried,
laugmngly when ! had obeyed her sum
mons. We'll. no wonder But / remember
you very we'll and how good you were to
me last summer at Oldport.' / stood petri-
fed with astonishment Was IL possible
that this vivacious young creature with
the aplomb OF veteran society woman
was the shy shrinking girl that / had
tried to talk to in vain only eight
months before? But what a transforma-
tionV ] exclaimed at length. How is IL
possible that you could have so complete
ly changed in so short a timer Why
you stupid man, have come OUT she
returned, and l shall expect you TO be
very nice 10 me. VIII your she added
ooquettishly. But which is your real