The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-04-28

SOAlClAulCS tAC SACopNSts nv AAA6S
One Cannot Do Without in Exercise, Di-
version and Indulgence.
By CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRICK,
Author of "Cradle and n ursery,''" First Aids
to the Young Housekeepers," "HOusekeep-
ing Made Easy" "what to Eat" "In City
Tents" Etc.
copyright, 1854, by Christine Terhune Herrick.)
Some time ago ii clever man or-per-
haps it YVES woman-started the idea
of an 'only" box. Into this were to be
dropped the coins that were saved from
small indulgenceS. The man who went
without an extra cigar or glass of beer,
the woman who refrained from ice
cream soda or caramels or saved car
fare by walking, deposited the sum thus
gained in the "only" box. After GER
tain period or on the occasion of need
of some specific kind or for the sake of
some particular cause the box was OPEN
ed and the accumulated amount devot-
ed to the object chosen.
The idea was excellent,-in way.
There can be no doubt that we all
spend small sums of money in foolish
fashions, in buying some things we are
as we'll off without. These sums, if
Jumped, would make something worth
while. But there is danger in the
scheme. One drawback was pointed
out by, | think, Chauncey NJ. Depew,
or some one equally we'll known, when
he said, that the economy which in
duced the man to refrain from bringing
home flowers to his wife or from grant
ing her some other trit1ing pleasure was
%,lr rtvaH- ma
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? | am not speak
ing of such obvious blunders as wearing
out quarters worth Of shoe leather to
save a nickel's carfare, or running a
handsome gown on stormy day sooner
than pay the price of a cab. Every
where women and men are guilty OF
this form of stupidity. But | refer now
to another variety OF economy, which
is equally to be condemned.
We all know the man who never has
time to get away from his business, t.le
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. Per
haps they kept up diversions for while
after marriage, and thought they would
never let themselves grow old or slip
into the staid, dull ways they HAD criti-
cised in their seniors. But little by
little cares crept in and they drifted
into the way of the stay -at-home. When
there were babies, or when the business
required constant nursing, the habit
was formed and the custom of economy
of time and money continued when the
real need for it had passed away. We
hear much talk of the habit OF eXtfava-
gance but | sometimes think that the
habit of boarding is more lnveterate.
1t matters not what one hOardS,-mOn-
ey, time, strength, effort. The result is
much the SAMOAN indifference to
everything else.
1t is well Tor 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 perhaps that he is making a pro-
vision 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 hat she hasn't time to 60
about. that re needs all her leisure to
keep i Ct house i'll order and all her
spare money for some uncertain future.
1t is worth while for her to take half
an hour off some day and determine
what she is going to gam IN exchange
for all she is giving up.
! do not for moment approve of
women neglecting their homes for the
sake of running about out of DOORS
That mistake is as big as the other
But there is such thing as middle
courst.-though this is not often popu-
lar with women.
The woman who makes her one idea
that Of keeping her house in spick and
span order pays pretty dearly for her
indulgence. She thinks that there is
nothing of more Importance than for
her to save money for her husband by
economZing in service. She therefore
does as much Of her own work as pos
s;be To do this she must deny herself
outdoor exercise. So she pays the price
of her complexion, her health, and often
her temper. All these are sacrificed to
the saving of mere money. 1t is
absurdity to cali this economy. 1t is
instead absolute thriftlessness and eX-
travagance.
Someone has said, that economy be-
comes dreadful only when some light
ming flash of truth shows us that our
painful frugality has been really the
most lavish waste" Such lightning
flash must come to every woman, soon
er or later, when she appreciates the
fact that she has worn herself out, lost
youth, health, good looks and the capac-
ity for enjoyment in the effort to save
money and gear. The sooner the light
ming happens to flash in her neighbor-
hood and wake her up to see things as
they are, the better for all concerned.
The best way in which woman can
fit herself to see life steadily and see it
whole is by getting into the fresh air.
By the time her body has been there
for while her mind will be clearer and
she will be able to perceive for herself
how mistaken are some of her econo-
mics. When she gets into the outdoors,
Wien she has had the exhllaration that
comes from a long sweeping walk or an
lnspiriting spin on wheel, she will
look at life from an entirely different
point of view. She will wonder why
she ever thought it more important to
dust every nook and corner of the
house every day imam it was to fill her
lungs with pure air. She will see that
it was a poor economy to make her own
frocks instead of having dressmaker
in once in while and gaining the OPP
portunity to rAad the new book or learn
the new song OF devote herself to CIV