The Washington herald., 1908-03-13
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

/ TO the woman who longs to branch out
snd live on a lavish scale say. Don't, .
unless you have a permanent income
strong nerves. and a love for responsible
ity. A large house means additional bur.
dens in every direction, increased ex.
penditure and less time for the desirable
things of life. the pleasant things out.
side the home.
i am watching matron who has passed
through the branching-out process and
is preparing to shrink to her former
state. She says that she viii be the hap
piest OF women when she Is once more
settled in a home suited TO the needs
Of two persons and one maid. with enough
room for comfort and none 20 go "a
waste and make extra work. and be-
lieve she will She begins married life in
a pretty fashion. with charming apart
ment of six rooms for winter home ard
small summer cottage with a bit o'
garden for a playhouse in warm weather.
She was happy and care-free in those
days but with prosperity came the nat
ural desire to broaden life.
There are many ways OF doing that, and
she missed them all, for she chose a path
that swallowed up d handsome yearly
income, and laid heavy care upon her
shoulders. She had a certain pride in her
belongings. and I reckon that was about
all she got for her money. Now that
hard times have affected business the in
pQua hac 1u,fpElaa 90 L. .l.. -.
horriied at rhe weekly expenditure. In
addition to being weary OF the life she
leads. Already plans have been formu-
lated for disposlng Of the large house and
the staff that runs it and getting back TO
coziness and expenses that viii allow
them TO have something besides shelter.
food, and clothing.
II was said that the prosperity Of a
year ago had turned the heads OF us all
for We were living far beyond our means
The little that was saved was not
enough to weather a season OF business
depression. and actual pinchlng has been
the general result II was not easy 10
get back to former conditions and the few
who had unpretentions homes and could
remain IN them and economic where the
public could not see it. were the only
ones who could have any peace Of mind.
The struggles of the others have been
made in plain view Of those who chose
TO look.
II IS no unusual sight To find women
doing their own housework Many had
been forced to it before they needed 10
economic; so when sensible wives OF
men whose business necessitated pairing
pretty near the quick. dispense with
domestic service. nobody wonders al ii.
Any woman of ordinary intelligence can
economize on clothing for a long while
and never be discovered. and simple
amusements can be substituted for costly
ones without other explanations than
apparent content at the exchange.
A determined woman can ACCOMPLISH
a good deal. Of course. but II is much
better TO avoid a situation that requires
heroic measures. The possession OF
temporary prosperity does not warrant
lavish expenditure for the future. the
uncertain future must be reckoned with.
Moralists declare that panics are neces-
sary 10 teach common sense 10 human
beings. and undoubtedly the lesson OF
one hard experience remains with many
persons for a whole lifetime. But an
other period of prosperity will find Us
generelly accepting life with the thought
iessness that easy money brings, so after
all. sermons are more or less wasted.
BETTY BRADEEN.