The sun., 1908-12-13
LIFE ON THE OPPOSITE PLAN
COr NTRY BOARD IN WINTER,
CITY Flat IN SUMNER.
4 woman VINO Thinks She Has Found tho
;dcai Manner Of IAfe on ~ 900 n
Year for TwO-Existence PleasanteP.
Though One May Not save Money.

1T always makes me sad when hear
rr ppr4ons who think they can eoonomize
bv taking u house in the country" said
iIo woman In last winter suit you
see that was one OF the very FIRST plans
We tried when we decided TO try TO get
more out of life than we seemed to enjoy
in our city fiat.
We were paying $50 u month for five
room apartment with hot water and
s,eam neat. telephone and an elevator,
nil of which made it quite possible TO do
without regular servant IL we wished.
Bv economical management we lived on
S5O Il month more. for there we're only
two of us and we had plenty OF clothing
and did not spend anything on amuse-
ments.
But we did not know how economically
we we're living. and we went one spring.
time TO a nearby country place. where
we got dear little cottage of nine rooms
for s?5 month We did not exactly
, rc,lrs on saving money so much as on
getting more pleasure out of our lives
and having more room and garden.
Almost Immediately we discovered
that il was impossible to expect one girl
10 take care of the house and do the
washing and cooking. Honsework
doubles in a two story and attic cottage
We had to be content with an inferior
sort of greenhorn. and this meant halfway
service generally, and had to do great
deal of the work myself also. Provisions
are high enough in town, but we paid
double city prices in the country
You can live much more Independent
social life in town than in small country
place. Persons are much more inter
ested in their neighbors in the country
and an attempt to keep up card parties
and church affairs became n great bother
to US. We had either to accept and re-
turn these oourtesies or else be put down
as ungenerous or snobbish. We found
it cost us considerably more than the oc-
casonal dinners and evenings we had
with our friends in town.
my husband rebelled especially at this.
He liked to read and work in his study
nights or have friend down from the
city sometimes without any other COM
pany, but in the country one is at the
mercy Of friends and neigbbors: II they
see lights in the sitting room they are
quite apt to drop in. informally. and you
have no idea what a nuisance the incest
people in the world can get to be in this
way.
BY the time autumn came we were
only too glad to get back to the city. where
we could, after all, live with less reference
to what our neighbors would think of it,
Our summer had not been an unpleasant
time by any means, but it had cost US
much more than we counted on and we
were so tired Of constant company that
our fat was positively restful.
We enjoyed that part of 1t, but we
still believed that there must be some
way 10 make more out Of life than most
persons do who live in $50 a month
fats Some friends of ours coming to
town the next spring took great fancy
10 our apartment. We had planned to go
South and let them have it.
Then business matters came up that
cla6ged all our plans. Our friends were
already installed in our rooms. for which,
by the way, they were paying up SO a
month, and we did not wish to disturb
them. We looked about us and we found
furnished fat to let in rather out Of
the way and unfashionable part of town.
Ihe rent was $40 and the tenants were
going to the mountains for the summer.
Our friends finally bought out our
furnishings and took up our lease. We
we're homeless now and rather glad of it,
and from this situation evolved our dis
covery OF good plan for pleasant and
economical living. with the change of
scene that is so desirable.
That winter chance took US to a
pleasant country place for q visit over
Christmas and, we found that we could
get hoard in big roomy old country
house, where there were open hearth
fires. a southern cook md charming
people about US. for $40 a. week. There
was a country club and golf links near
by and we were able to keep our dog.
big red setter that would have found the
city fat rather confining.
Here life was simple and at the same
time we had sucn luxuries as fine and
abundant table linen. towels and sheets
in plenty. We could ride horseback
every day or drive at a very small cost.
There was skating within reach and our
pleasures suddenly changed to those
wholesome out OF door sports that make
the blood tingle and give appetite.
Shops. and restaurants no longer
seemed to offer us any JOY that we wished
for and we realized that at last we had
time for reading and study-pleasures
that we're denied us in town.
The winter is the best time in the
country, and 50 far as social life goes the
atmosphere is a thousand times better
than in summer. when boarders abound.
II is not necessary to have the latest cut
in coats and gowns for outdoor wear. /,
as one goes out for a walk or ride and
never for a parade. as in the city.
we managed to look well and to be
comfortable in clothes which we could
never have put in an appearance on Fifth
avenue with. In fact it is rather bad
form to dress up much in the country e1-
ccpt for dinner.
This life suited us exactly. We were !
only boarders, but we liked 1t immensely |
after our experience as householders, and |
for one enjoyed the freedom from |
housekeeping. Of course we had found |
an unusually nice place, but such places |
are to be found in the winter. when board |
ors are not so plenty.
Town pleasures cost immensely. We |
do not realize it at the time. but |
hucheons and matinees, cab tips and the !
constant replenishing OF wornen's ward !,
robe are drain on the purse that keeps !
on growing bigger.
IN the country in winter you are cut |
m from many OF these things and you |
lcrin to cultivate the simpler pleasures |