New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-02-18
EXTRAVAGANT ECONOMY
Brooklyn Women Discuss Ethics OF
Household Expenses.

"He wouldn't give her the money to buy the
| baby's ayette So she picked his pockets when he
asleep till she got what she thought she ought
| to have And that baby afterward turned out a
thief
This was little story told by Miss Carr at the
ment of the Brooklyn Institute the subject of
"Extravagant Economy in the Home" led by Mrs.
Franklin Hooper
IL know a family" said another member of the
audience, in which II was not question OF money
at all. The family In perfectly comfortable
circumstances. When they married the husband
requested the wife TO keep account of the house,
hold expenses and submit II to him in so often
When she did so he would complain of the money
spent for her personal expenses. She said nothing
but simply began to falsify her accounts. She
would add a little here and little there to the
ordinary household expenses and put down less
for her personal expense account. Now, L would
have told him what spent if he took the roof off,
Il approve of that spirit exclaimed Miss Carr
"a little more independence spunk. even
temper-whatever you choose to call it's prefer
able to a system of lying and stealing to make
things go smoothly
II don't want to be written down as pessi-
mist" said Mrs Hooper, because believe there
is a great deal of sweet and wholesome domestic
life among US. But 1t cannot be denied that there
is great deal of dissatisfaction and unrest among
women: that there IS an increase in the number of
women seeking divorce. There is much to indicate
that the economic status OF women is not satsfac-
tory to themselves"
WIFE's ECONOMIC STATUS
Young people should have a hard and fast
rangement Immediately upon their marriage" said
Mrs. Sanford. "as to the money for household
penses They should not start upon the hap
hazard, sentimental basis, because that is harder
change afterward. There should be a thorough
understanding as to what they can afford to spend
be handed out to her to administer matter of
each time he gives her money. The old idea was
that 1t Is only the husband who works very hard to
the wife to spend it. AS a matter Of fact it re-
qures time thought and labor to get the most
possible out of the money and make the family
comfortable on the, limited amount which most
The solution OF the .wife's economic status"
said another woman, will come as more and more
young women or the better classes go into money
earning When woman gives up a lucrative po-
slton in order to marry it is understood by the
pensaton,"
money spent for eaupment as se mGea
lost" said Mrs. Hooper. "is that this expenditure
money for new machine in his factory. Af that Pen mas
G f6r max 2Kes money for him But money spent
saving OF labor and Inconvenience to the wife
Office handsSmy f e beca fGse dR that Il isl his
capital invested in his business, and viii bring a
pure outlay, without any financial return It is
a rare thing 10 know woman who is perfectly
work that women do outside the home nowadays
But. with the new outlook Of women it is a nerve
ones entire Interests within four walls do I not
personally know single woman who neglects
much for the home. We ali know the women
whose silver and faucets must be polished to the
be absolutely perfect. whose houses must be- gone
oyer every day for a particle of dust or disorder
Happily ia such women are growing rarer and when
aequaintance I have been in houses where /
ating some species Of disorder We all love W. tSe
houses in which We feel such a sense of welcome
want is balance: reasonable housekeeping and
reasonable interest in the outside world.
APPORTION THE INCOME.
AS for household economics. the ideal way
when the income is fixed somewhere nearly
hxed. is to set aside a certain amount for the
housekeeping expenses We all know the house,
holds In which the housekeeping expenses are
standing OF what the family can afford to spend
4 Z. depression comes at the office. the husband
the wife Keeps still til It bowsS o1aG 9 o ond IFs
Things go on in the old way.
reasonable way. The wife should have a fTeS
allowance for her private and personal expenses
lily, and she should feel that this is hers to do
with as she likes. without giving any account of |
IT. and that she is not TO exceed it. unless under
unforeseen and reasonable circumstances Thera
are SO mtsiny men who can lay down So for any |
cannot give % cents without calculating on What
they can give up to make it good. 1 believe YOU |
VIII all own that this Is not uncommon state of
affairs. 1t is no wonder women are extravapant |
with money when they get 1t in their hands be- |
amounts which must cover fixed expenses and |
thus learning the value of money.
A CHILDs ALLOWANCE.
'As with the wife. with the children. A |
child VINO Is not given fixed allowance from |