The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-16
What Woman Can Do
 On Limited Income


 One of the most difficult things in life Is trying to keep appearances up, and expenses down. There are very few peo- pie who are willing to live up to their last penny (never being able to forget the proverbial rainy day) and yet in these strenuous times to live comfortably on a limited income seems well-nigh impos- sible.
 Before MT. Stuyvesant Fish departed for Europe this summer with the fash ionable Mrs. Fish, he had a great deal to say about living on $15 week. MT Fish probably never has tried it-at least not for a very long time. The multi-mil- ionaire was accredited with saying: That it is harder for a man who has had an income of $250000 a year to adjust him self to the conditions of a $5O,00O income than for a man living on $l5 week to have his wages cut to $10.
 Perhaps there is much truth in the re- mark, but MT. Fish understated the com parative figures. He argues that the wealthy have been more crippled by the recent hard times than the poor This may also be true But the V al neces- sity of enough to eat, and c. 1g to wear, is a problem at least that has not attacked the more fortunate, while the poorer masses undoubtedly have suf- fered.
 The statistics furnished by the United States department of labor indicate that the average earnings of an American laborer amounts to $S27 annually. or this 1t Is estimated that 1920 will buy food for a family of five persons. This reduced to weekly expenses is about S6 While the sum seems small If we'll ex- pended it can undoubtedly be made to cover living expenses. Viands that nour- ish and strengthen are fortunately not al ways the most expensive; clothing may be purchased which, while not fine, is durable and comfortable and the thrifti- ness of the clever housewife can devise ways and means to make ends meet, and home comfortable.
 A step higher is the man who earns from S15 to SIS a week. and this Is really & harder proposition than the man who makes less, for the more one earns the more demands one has. In these days or extravagant living and high prices, to suggest that comfortable existence may be accomplished on such meagre incomes brings an incredulous smile to the coun- tenances of many. But it can be done and Is done every day. There Is just one requirement. necessary; that the man who earns the money must have the assist ance of his wife, and they must know how to spend the money judiciously. The
 
 purely one of good management. This is corroborated by the various liberty or ganizations, as well as other social work CTS among the masses, who say that the folly of the women who control the purse strings of the homestead is respon- sible for many an unhappy home.
 V Social ambition is one of the greatest factors against happiness, where small incomes abide. lesson which will not < soon be forgotten in this line is furnished } by Mir Eugene Walter in his powerful play which held the boards in New York for many months entitled, Paid In Full" There are so few dramas of the present day that teach anything worth while-so few, that are not plotted out by the final fall of the curtain from all future Interest and consideration. But this one Which maxim Thackery drew a picture ,. thatscan be imagined. The same old story of flying too high''-a home blighted, a mans and a womans life ruined by ex- travagance and debt-and at last the two. face to face with all that is fateful and ]oathsome in life. It is frightful trag- edy.
 Major Pendennis, in giving advice to young Pen, said "I can't afford to know < poor people, I'm too poor myself, from I of chrography was evidently neglected, < of one of the most remarkable characters lin fiction, and one which we frequently Nsmeet in real life. It is. not very easy to rid ones self of temptation; it is un- N doubtedly true though, that those who realize they must economize, soon learn how to resist temptation, and in this dis crimination between things that are neces- sary and things that are not, they find that the solution brings great happiness. There are unfortunately silly women everywhere (mostly in the minority, how ever)-wasn't it George Elliott who said I'm not denying that the women are foolish, for the Lord Almighty made them to match the men?'
 Once in a while "A petticoated and heartless barster, as Taine calls Becky Sharpe, appears upon the scene and brings