Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1901-07-25
DEPENDS ON THE WIFE.
How Much Man Should Earn Before
MARRYING.

In Kansas City an interesting dis
cussion has been going on about how
much money a young man should earn
before marrying. Clergymen, bust
ness men and prominent women have
made estimates of all the way from
| $50 to $40 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 Father Dayton, pastor
of the Church of the Annunciation
Il have never had a 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. TNenty-nine years ago,
when everything was higher, men
came here to Kansas City and sup
ported wife on SLIPS day. These
men raised large families and some of
them are now wealthy citizens. To
day young couple think they cannot
start out in life without ostentation
Instead of paying as they go they
handicap their life journey by the in
stallment houses. The woman of to-
day holds the solution of the question
Social conditions are such that her
| life is drifting away from the house
hold instincts. Where mothers used
to come to me and ask me TO place
| their daughters IL good families, they
| now ask ms t. get them Jobs in de-
partment stores, and forget how to ac-
commodate thems Ives to the plain
necessities of life. Young men tell
me they can't afford to marry and
consequently The percentage of mat
rimonial connections is decreasing.
why, O. man and woman can live
on less than $50 and support fam.
lily. 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 sup
ported families on $25 month. OF
course, there gre allurements and ex-
| travagances now that did not exist
then. A man can worry through on
$50 month If he finds sensible wo-
man who will economize."
Mrs. Gage of the Athenaeum saws:
"a young man can live nicely on $45 a
month If he wants to marry-it de-
ponds, 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
Certainly the young woman plays an
important part in the economical
scheme, for the majority are not prop
erly trained for housewives, but If q
young man is extravagant everything
is lost. | know of instances where
young men have married on S45 a
month and lived pleasantly"
Rev. S. A. Northrup of the First
Baptist church expresses this opin.
lou: Il have married LOO couples,
and | ought to know something on the
subject. Young people today want to
start out On the same scale that old
people finish with. There is too much
flourish and false aspirations. No
young man should contemplate matri-
mony 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. +. Damon of the Provident asso-
citation has had plenty of opportuni-
ties to study the economical situation,
and his views on the subject are
based on personal observation. "The
| average couple will spend every cent
of the salary" he says, whether 1t be
$50 or $40. OF course, / have seen
families live for less than $50 month.
but that amount is the minimum on
which think young man should
marry"