The Saint Paul globe., 1902-10-30


Halves With a Fair Allowance of
cash-Mrs. M. 3. Lewis, of Mime
apoIis, Discusses Parliamentary
Law.
Said prominent st. Paul woman
recently: "The saying that a. woman's
idea of economy is having things
charged evidently originated with
man, and not very wise one at that.
There is a great deal to be said about
women and extravaganza, and I've
been wanting for a long time to air my
sentiments on the subject. The trou-
bic Is that men do not trust their
wives with money, and they have not
the faintest idea how disagreeable it is
never to have more in your pocket
than car fare.
when a woman marries and has
no money of her own she at once be-
comes dependent upon her husband for
every cent, and few men realize what
agonies women suffer through this
very thing. 1t is very hard to ask for
money; If men were thoughtful-and,
, of course, many are-they would think
how hard this is and see that their
wives are provided = indeed there is no
real reason why they should not divide
their salaries or income from what
ever source with their wives. Many
men do this, but the vast majority
give their wives so much for house,
keeping purposes, ,and seem to think that
a woman should be able to dress on
the 40 or so cents a week that is left
over! There is more truth than fiction
In the story Of the man who gave his
wife 81 and said: Now, 10y dear,
go buy something you want!
Women Not Extravaeant.
''The truth is women are not ex-
travagant; in many instances they are
vastly better managers than their hus
bands, and If the men would hand over
their salaries to their wives on the
first Of the month there would be more
left at the end of the month than there
is in many cases now. / know of a
man in New York who does this and
he says it is the only way he has been
able to save a cent, for money just
nelts out Of his hands.
"As for having things charged, I'm
sure no woman enjoys it, she would
much prefer to pay cash, for she could
buy to better advantage, but many
husbands won't trust their wives with
money. I have one case in mind now
where a husband fears his wife will
fritter money away. He has plenty,
and he tells her she can go anywhere
and buy on credit, and he will pay her
bills at the end of the month. That
woman doesn't have SIS in her purse
once a year, but she has unlimited
credit, and the result is she runs UP
immense bills, and has not the slight
est idea of the value of money. Hus-
hands seem to forget that their wives
are entitled to their share of every
thing. How would man among men
like to have nothing but 20 or SO cents
IN his purse? Let him try it and see.
Often a Ground for Divorce.
'"This strange state Of affairs, even
among the rich, has made many
woman discontented and has furnished
grounds for more than one divorce.
In the middle classes 1t has led to
many women working for nothing else
than to have the pleasure Of little
money in their pockets. Men go about
with their pockets full of money, and
If they are in a crowd Of men who
want to do something requiring money,
they are able to join in, and much
money that should go to the wife and
family Is spent for nonsense among
men. Now many woman, If she has
a circle Of friends, is placed in posi-
tions where the lack of money in her
pocket is a great embarrassment, and
men should remember this and should
see to it that their wives are not plac-
ed In these awkward positions. No
woman will ever learn the value Of
dollar If she has to shop on credit.
Cash shopping is money saved every
time.
"If this should meet the eyes of
some husbands, [ hope they will stop
and reflect that the position of wom-
en- has changed, they go out into the
world more than they once did, and
the demand on their pockets is just
as great as it is among men, and they
must meet it, Just pause and con-
slider that if women spent as much
money in candy, for instance-or any
like thing-as men spend in cigarSand
drinks and other things that cannot
be truthfully called necessities, what
hue and cry there would bel Having
things charged, instead of being a joy
to women, is positive hardship, and
most of the women who do it do SO
at the request ef their husbands.
Talked on Parliamentary Law.
Mrs. NJ B. Lewis, of Minneapolis,
gave a most interesting talk on parlia-
mentary law Tuesday afternoon at the
residence of Mrs. A. T. BigeloW, re-
cording secretary of the Minnesota
Federation, at her home in Merriam
Park. 1t was in reality an afternoon
tea to which many club women, prin-
cipally officers, were invited and Mrs.
Lewis talked Interestingly Of the order
of procedure on which subject she is
an expert and teacher. She said
that the club movement is growing so
extensively and spreading out in so
many directions, it is necessary that