The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1906-03-23
FOR An ALLOWANCE
PLEA FOR SCHOOLGIRL TO
HAVE OWN MONEY.
3irl Who Receives a Definite Allow
ance Regularly Learns How to
Spend Money, How to Save It
and How to Give 1t Away-Train-
ing Girls to Buy Their Own Cloth
ing--Borrowing and Lending.
BY MARGARET e. sANGsTER.

BY MARGARET e. sANGsTER.
"What has happened?" l asked Su-
san, who had run in to see me on her
way home from school, looking pref
tier and brighter than ever. Has
any great good fortune come your way?
Have you had a present from your
fairy godmother? I know you have
just had a birthday, dear"
Indeed | have. l am 16 and / feel
awfully old. No, | haven't heard from
my fairy ~godmother, but father has
increased my allowance, and mother
says that from this time onward l
am to buy my own clothes, as we'll as
pay my other expenses"
jeanne and Julia. who happened to
be sitting with me, lifted their hands
in dismay.
You poor Sue, you can never do 1t
In the world, no matter how large
your allowance IS"
Then I'll have to go in rags" re-
piled Susan, "for father and mother
say that they have thought of every
thing. If I spend all my money on
the first day of the month | shall have
no more until the text pay day. If
/ waste 1t / am to be the sufferer.
Mother say go. And l know all
about it. Last February l bought my
Angora cat when my allowance came,
and don't you remember, | had to
trudge through the snow without car
fare the whole Of that month? l am
for1tdIAn atthAr ~ Nr,Nr -. 49, ,1na
plain. But really as l have a liberal
allowance | ought to keep within it.
l an satisfied. However, I'd much
rather mother should buy my clothes
than leave 1t to me. l don't know the
first thing about doing it economical
ly and hate the bother"
Il am in debt the whole living
time" said Julia, but l watch my
opportunity and when daddy is in a
good humor I put my cheek against
his and with my arms around his
neck tell him my woes. He pretends
to scold and frown, but | kiss the
frown away, and it ends by his say
ing: Run along, little girl. Your old
dad will help you out, of Counsel
Then he gives me plenty to pay up
everything and begin all over again"
Susie laughed.
We'll, my father isn't like that.
He's the dearest father, but his char
acter is like a rock, and he never yet
has given me anything for kisses and
coaxing. should hate to bribe my
father in that way. l beg your par
don. Julia!"
"Oh, never mind" said Julia, dane
ing out Of the room. II don't care
what it is called, SO long as l gain
my point"
l sighed as | looked after her, for l
saw breakers ahead. A girl brought
up on that plane would never learn
the value of money, nor any RESPONSE
bility about its management. II she
married, she would probably exceed her
income, involve her husband in debt,
and have a more or less wretched
home life.
Jean had not spoken after her first
exclamation. BUT she had something
to say.
II never had an allowance, Now
LIN thCh -hI hOIludyS vi
papa or Aunt Jane gives HE a bill or
a gold piece, but mother does not
think ! need money. l ask for it
when want to buy candy or note "a
per, and l have car fare and lunch
con money, of course, but I've never
had an allowance. l envy you, Su-
san"
Most girls would agree with Jean.
A girl who has a definite allowance
promptly paid is a girl to be envied.
She is more independent than her
friend who receives little sums as IL
may happen. She learns how to spend
money, how to save 1t, md how to
give it away, each lesson an all-impor-
tant one.
But she learns none OF these valu-
able lessons if she has an easy-going
father and mother, who permit her to
be reckless and extravagant. One may
be reckless on a small sum as we'll
as on a large. Whoever constantly
exceeds her income is e~xtravagant,
whether h be 16 or SO, daughter or
mother.
Every young girl should, il prac-
ticable, have an allowance. At first
1t should be very small. just SUFFICIENT
to cover her little expenses. AS she
grows older, 1t should be annually. in
creased. She should know what she is
expected to do with 1t, and she should
be trained never to spend next months
payment before it is put in her hands.
A friend who successfully brought
up a large family told me that her
girls began to buy their own clothing
when they were ~ years old. She
went with them to the shops, and
taught them what to select, how much
to buy and everything about the mys-
teries of purchasing, considering 1t as
necessary a part of their education as
nuyfhiuQ thov 1oarnad IN .h~s,