The Washington herald., 1907-03-26
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

ub not IKE 10 pose dS a. tE0hkEtr NfL
have heard so much Of late concerning
the unsteady prosperity OF this country
that / am beginning to believe that pOssi-
bly, men who know something of its re-
sources and the trend OF business have
reason 20 warn US against too much con-
fidenee in our present good fortune. II
We are not prepared when change comes
it Will not be on account of ignorance
We are being warned enough.
I wonder how many Of US are better pre-
pared for hard times than we were, say,
three years ago. Money has been more
plentiful, wages have increased. and busl-
ness opportunities have been better. and
we ought to have done something for the
future. ] am afraid that we have in
creased our expenses with our Income
and so acquired tastes that will bother us
some when the pinch comes. do not
know many as wise as a man who took a
position with new employer who offered
him twice the salary he had been receiv-
ing. A friend predicted that the new con-
cern would not be in existence longer
than a year and told him how foolish he
was TO change.
well" was the quiet reply, when the
crash comes shall have my extra money
salted away, so 1 shall still be a winner,
as my working capacity viii not be i'm
paired That is just what he is doing
sailing away" his extra dollars and llv-
ing within his original income, and that
is the only way to get ahead. saw an
official statement of the financial eondI-
tion Of France, the country OF thrift. ard
it was interesting from the fact that be-
ing very rich country only one-fifth of
its wealth belongs TO millionaires.
The rest represents the savings Of the
people, the men and women who regard
old age as inevitable. therefore 70 be made
as comfortable as possible and who have
80 hope Of marrying of their daughters
unless ii dowry goes with each. Saving is
as much a part of life in that country as
earning. and the desire TO earn money is
very strong. Here cases of thrift are so
rare that stories built around it travel all
over the country by means of the news
papers, like the one of the man who
/ brought up q large family of children and
saved thousands OF dollars on an income
of dollar a day for q score Of years or
more.
The stories were not quite true to facts,
however. because the man made at least
one wise investment that doubled his
money and had an occasional gift and.
I think a few dollars added to his weekly
wages from time to time. Also the family
purse was fattened by the children as
they grew large enough to work and pay
board. But these little facts take nothing
from the glory of life of economy with
the object OF an independent old age al
ways in view. Among the many sad
sights Of life is that of destitute old age.
and that may come to any parent as well
as to those without ties. I read. recently.
a touching letter from a mother TO her
son, a mother who IS working for her
board because her son cannot offer her
home for domestic reasons. The wife OBJ
jects to burdens. as she eharacterizes par
ents.
There should be something left from
lifetime of work to provide simple com
forts when the working days are over.
Dishonesty sweeps away the savings Of
many, ! know, but d much larger number
never make any provision for the future.
The fancy for starting a bank account for
a baby has much to recommend il, since
it cannot be touched. when properly de-
posted. till the owner reaches the age OF
legal freedom. So It goes on accumuiat-
ing. and the chances are that the fund
will be allowed to remain at interest after
majority. The beginning to save Is al
ways much more difficult than the strug-
gle 10 add TO the hoard. as anybody will
tell you but a matter so vital to human
welfare is worth a struggle. good. hard
one al that BETTY BRADEEN.