The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-07

The idea was eXcellent-in way. There
can be no doubt that we all spend small
sums of money in foolish fashions, in buy
ing some things we are as we'll off with
out. These sums, if Jumped, would make
something worth while But there is dan
ger in the scheme. One drawback was
pointed out by, think, Chauncey M. De-
pew, or some one equally well known,
when he said that the economy which in
duced the man to refrain from bringing
home flowers to his wife or from granting
her some other tr1ling pleasure was
worse mistake than extravaganza. There
are some savings that cost too much for
anyone to venture to indulge in them.
Are not many Of the things that are
denied more valuable than the money they
would demand? I am not speaking of such
obvious blunders as wearing out a quar-
ters worth Of shoe leather to save a
nickel'S carfare. or running q handsome
gown on q stormy day sooner than pay
the price Of a cab. Everywhere women
and men are guilty of this form of stu
pidity But 1 refer now to another variety
of economy, which is equally to be con-
demned.
We all know the man who never has
time to get away from his business the
woman who is never able to leave the
house. except to go to church or to
market. Both enjoyed a little pleasure
when they were young, probably. Perhaps
they kept up diversions for a while after
marriage and thought they would never
let themselves grow old slip into the
staid dull ways they had criticized in
their seniors. But little by little cares
crept in and they drifted into the way Of
the stay-at-h home. When there were
babies. when the business required
constant nursing. the habit formed
and the custom of economy Of time and
money continued when the real need for
1t had passed away. We hear much talk
of the habit of extravaganza but l some
times think that the habit OF boarding is
more inveterate. It matters not what one
hoards-money, time, strength, effort The
result is much the samoan Indifference
to everything else.
1t Is well for those who save In this way
to ask themselves why they do It, What
do they win by it? The man who stays
constantly at his business may plead per-
haps that he Is making a provision for his
old age and for those who will come after
him. But what is the plea Of the woman
who stays at home? She may say that she
hasn't time to go about, that she needs
all her leisure to keep her house in order
and all her spare money for some uncer-
tain future. It is worth while for her to
take half an hour off some day and de-
termine what she is going to gain in ex-
change for all she Is giving up.
do not for a moment approve Of women
neglecting their homes for the sake of
running about out Of doors. That mis-
take is as big as the other. But there
is such a thing as a middle course-tho
this Is not often popular with women.
The woman who makes her one idea
that Of keeping her house in spcl1 and
span order pays pretty dearly for her in
diligence. She thinks that there Is moth
ing Of more Importance than for her to
save money for her husband by economic
8 ing in service. She therefore does as
much of her own work as possible. TIC
do this she must deny herself outdoor ex-
ercse So she pays the price Of her COM
plexion her health, and often her temper
All these are sacrificed to the saving OF
mere money. 1t is an absurdity to cal
this economy. 1t is instead absolute
thriftlessness and extravaganza.
Someone has said, that economy be-
comes dreadful only when some lightning
flash Of truth shows us that our painful
frugality has been really the most lavish
waste. Such lightning flash must come
to every woman sooner or later, wher
she appre ciates the fact that she has worr
herself out, lost youth, health good look:
and the capacity for enjoyment in the eff
fort to save money and gear. The sooner
the lightning happens to flash in he
neighborhood and wake her up to SCI
a things as they are the better for all con
cerned.
The best way in which a woman can fl
herself to see life steadily and see it whole
"A is by getting into the fresh air. BY thu
time her body has been there for a wfil
her mind will be clearer and she will b.
able to perceive for herself how mistaken
M are some OF her economies. When she get
into the outdoors, when she has had tn
exhilaration that comes from a Ions
sweeping walk or an ipspiriting spin on
wheel, she will look at life from an en-
tirely different point Of view. She vii
wonder why she ever thought it more i'm
portant to dust every nook and corner o
the house every day than it was to fill he
lungs with pure air. She will see that
was q poor economy to make her owl
frocks instead of having a dressmaker Il
once in a while and gaining the opportun
ity to read the new book or learn the ney
song or devote herself to giving her hus
band jolly evening, such as they used t
have when they were first married an
took it as matter Of course that ther
should be an occasional little suppe
and small party Of friends to eat it. Sh
will learn that it Is not economy t
put few yards more trimming on tn
" children's clothes instead OF getting thei
garments ready made and thus saving tn
time to give herself to her growing boy
and girls, In indoor and outdoor sport.