The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-02-06

The great financial prosperity of
the last two or three years has led
to quite free expenditure OF money
by very. many people. Not few
have gotten into the habit OF buying
many things, necessary and not nec-
had and the things desired. There
has developed the spirit of extrava-
gance on the part of some, while
with Others there has been simply
the qualification of laudable desire
to surround themselves and loved
ones with better things than they had
been able to opossess i'm days past and
gone. Our people have never, as Il
whole. been so comfortably housed,
clothed, fed and amused as they are
now, and have been for several years.
Never have they had so many real
comforts and luxuries at command.
They have enjoyed their prosperity.
But there has come somewhat of q
financial reaction, and the large ma
iority of the people, at least the
thoughtful ones, are considering how
they may economize. Retrenchment
in business and in home and personal
expenditures is the order of the day.
And naturally everyone who is con-
sidering the subject is asking the
question: How shall | economic?
Where shall retrenchment begin?
What shall | continue and what
shall | cut off of my expenditures?
Many an honest soul is asking and
seriously considering these and kin
dred questions. And we are tempted
to offer to such a few suggestions.
chiefly those Of a negative kind-the
"nots."
Do not begin with the children's
education. This would be to sacrifice
a lifetime-aye, an eternal good to
the present, and temporary difficulty.
And the difficulty not an insurmount-
able one. Large temporary sacri-
flee may well be made to keep the
children at school. Their school age
opportunities will soon pass never
to return.
Do not economic at the expense OF
the culture of the home, which is due
to the use of good books, maya
zines and papers. If you are buying
trashy literature, of any of these va
rieties, let it go at once. But see to
it that the best of each comes into
your home. This is education unto
true culture.
Do not cut off too severely, the
amusements that may have been en-
ioyed. especially those in which all
the family can engage. There is
often extravaganza in the expendi-
lures for smusements. These may
be decreased with no diminution OF
real pleasure and profit. There are
some not very elevating kinds OF
amusements which may be entirely
discontinued without any loss of any
thing good.
Do not diminish the small benevo-
lence switch may have carried cheer
and comfort to the sick, the sorrow
ing, the distressed or the needy. If
there is an invalid Or "shut-in" in
the home, or in the circle of friends.
or even beyond, continue, or even in
crease your attention.; for some
others may discrease theirs, and the
suffererers may miss these and be
saddened
And be sure not to begin at the
house OF God. Do not let your coll
tributions to pastors salary and
church expenses grow less The pas
tor has probably-certainiy, if de-
pendent wholly on his salary-been
exercising the grace OF doing with
out to a considerable extent already.
Do not make him learn the lesson
any more severely. Expes es OF liv-
ing have grown largely in these years
OF prosperity. Perhaps his salary
has not grown at all.
And do not begin with those be-
nevolenees which are needed to feed
and clothe the orphans; to provide
Christian education for the youth of
our State; to give the Gospel to the
destitute in the home land; to send
the light OF the knowledge OF the
glory Of God, as it shines in the face
Of Jesus Christ. to those who sit in
the region and shadow OF death, and.
lift spiritually sight!-ss eyes upward
to the gleam OF that glorious light
which envelopes You and yours in
this Christian land