The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-03-25
BY MARGARET D. sANGsrER.

(Copyright. 1906. by Joseph B. Bowies.)
 A young fellow just out of college met me one day and with disgusted expression inquired whether I knew MT. Blank. poet whose verses were household words replied that I had that honor. adding that I appreciated very much the privilege of MT. Blanks friendship. yesterday" said the lad, with a gloomy look on his handsome face T should have said the same thing. but am disillusionized. Blank called at our house last evening and with a laugh told my father that he felt very happy. He had settled his coal bill with the price of a poem. Think of thati Think of bringing poetry down to the level of coal bills and furnaces!'
 MT. Blank is most fortunate" I said Tt is not every poet who can defray the cost of living by poetic dreams. nor is poetry ofter so renu- nerative that 1t can offset tons of coal"
 We parted. the young fellow and L unable to agree with one another. but I fancy a few years later when he shall have become a sober, plodding, professional man. with a family to support, he will understand the situa- tion better. By some honest means coal and groceries must be paid for,
 
 into account whether people earn their money by one form of day labor or an- other From the president in the White House to the Italian workman digging a trench, we all live, If we are decent and diligent on the fruits or our labor A small contingent. not | to be envied, loaf about Europe and | America, existing in likeness on the money hard-working fathers and | grandfathers earned But we do not take them into account, as they be- | long distinctly to the unproductive | class. Most of us are producers, and as producers are directly interested in the cost of living.
 1 The proposition resolves itself into l several parts. the first of which is: The Shelter of the Roof. 1 We cannot be exposed to the ele- I ments We must have a refuge from | winds, rain, cold, storm and sun. | Whether we live in a splendid brown | stone edifice or tumble-down ,un- painted cottage, or anywhere between these extremes, we must equally have I protection from inclemency of the at- mosphere, and asylum from friends and foes. The latter sentiment may need explanation, because everyone com prehends that enemies are better or the outside of the shelterlng walls 1 while everybody who is not disposed tC hermit life has a welcome for hii friends. Yet there are days and night' | when a home values secluSton, anC does not even desire for the momen the presence of friends. Four walli and a roof are the shell of the home let it be very simple or very stately For this shelter we pay either 1T rent if we hire, or in taxes and th' cost of constant repairs, If we own th' estate. At the basis of family living lies the cost of the shelter, and thu first duty of aAhouseholder Is to rightl! adjust this item of expense in It's rela tion to other necessary items. Th' house itself should not annually cos for shelter more than fifth of the an nual income.
 Often people pay an undue price fol shelter because they are determined tt live on a fashionable street, or in { neighborhood where houses are helC at fancy valuation. They deny them selves of a great part of the joy of liv ing and are defrauded of ,comfor through a mistaken pride as to the ex ternal appearance and internal ar engagements of that which is after al the least important item in the bill What we demand of a house is that l shall have excellent sanitary condi tions and perfect drainage, that i shall be tight and compact, without ; leaking roof, or a damp cellar, ant that there shall be in 1t sufficient room to accommodate the family.
 These are the essentials. Other mat ters may take care of themselves.
 
 The Item of Clothing.
 A man who goes daily to bushes! must be comfortably clothed for hi' work, well shod and provided witl outer garments that enable him to tp pear thoroughly respectable among hi associates. A good deal of success may depend on the appearance mar makes when going to and from th' place of his work. A man whos' dress is obviously shabby and thread bare Is discounted unless being a mil lionaire he can afford to look as pool as poverty.
 In ordinary circumstances the mar of the house must be well dressed, bu ready-made clothing of good qualit, even in our extravagant country maI be purchased for cash at a fair price Granted that a good cut and good ma terial are selected and adequate care taken of the garments a man need no be troubled overmuch about the cos of his clothes. Wife and children ar' we'll dressed or badly dressed, not ac cording to the amount of money spent but according to the taste. skill ana economy of the mistress of the house It is rather amusing to compare notei MPa A will dPaqa fnITl