The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-11
Contented Woman Looks
Pretty, Is Happy, and
Dresses Nicely.
DOES OWN WORK,
BUT ENJOYS 1T
Starts Out on But So Weekly and
Manages TO Make Both Ends
Meet With Even That Sum.

For almost a month a discussion as
20 what it costs to live has been going
on on this page
The debate was precipitated by a
question signed Annette" which asked
whether. making S12 a week. the writer
was justified in giving up her position
20 marry a man making $50.
My answer to this query was, in my
poor opinion, a marvel Of diplomacy. II
Annette were trained in household eco
nomics, was a good cook and fair
InArketer, did not demand pretty clothes
and many OF them and was content TO
DO without luxuries. she might. told
her, marry on $50 and be happy.
II, on the other hand. she was not
trained In taking care OF a house, was
idle, eXtravagant or very fond OF
care-free life. she had better not make
the experiment.
Immediately letters began TO pour into
mo criticising this reply. One-half the
letters said that two persons who could
not live on so a week could not live on
$50: the other half declared that II was
suicidal 10 attempt life on such pitiful
sum: that it would not be life at all:
that no man had a right to ask a girl
20 make such a sacrifice, and that the
who might come to bless the union must
be taken into consideration.
Men Are Savage.
Almost all the men who wrote on the
Eubject declared that a girl who was
not willing to marry on such a salary
was not worth marrying. And they
were very vigorous in their denuncia-
tons Of the girl Of the period.
They were answered by sundry mar
rfed women who argued that men could
AFFORD to be savage since the manage
ment Of the small fund did not depend
upon the master. but on the mistress
Of the mansion She II was, they said.
who Was expected to perform tho mir
acle OF the widows cruise OF oil over
and over again with her pittance; she
It was who must provide nourishins
meals and warm clothing for her brood
on practically nothing a year.
Then came q letter signed Happy and
Contented Wife," which declared that
the writer had married her husband
when his salary was but IS a week: that
they had managed to live happily, and
10 make a little home in the country,
where they raised chickens and vege-
tables From time to time. she said, her
husbands salary had been raised, until
now he was getting SIS a week. and she
was very happy in her sphere.
Preached Gospel of Content
Happy and Contented Wife" might
have preached a gospel Of discomfort in
stead Of one of content, so fiercely did
the correspondents who followed her
rake her fore and aft. One writer de-
manded that she tell how she performed
her miracles. and, accordingly. one day
Happy and Contented Wife" came to
the office TO see me, and explain.
My husband said letters did not tell
much, and had better come down and
describe how we live" she said naiveIy
as she introduced herself
She had her small son with her, and
both were prettily and becomingly
dressed. Happy and COntented Wife"
looks about eighteen. but she says she is
twenty-five. The pretty gray suit which
she had on she told me she had made
herself, and it had cost all told. some
four dollars Then she pointed 70 the
attractive little overcoat her son wore,
and explained that she had made e
from a coat which she had worn for
three years herself, and had then ripped
NJ, washed and pressed and made over
The people who found fault with my
letter did not seem TO understand that
my husband was not still getting s. a
week. but had been advanced from time
to time until he now gets Sl6," she said
Does Her Own Work.
''Of course. I do all my own work
washing and ironing, too. I learned to
90 my husbands shirts and collars as
yell as a laundry could do them We
go out very little I'm the evenings, though
occasionally when we feel like il we
take in a theater.
4 save something every week to pay
Tor our home, for our life insurance,
and for our clothes. This hat I have
On Tor instance, l bought with money
which have saved from my household
expenses, little at time. for weeks.
4 have not taken In washing. as sol,1e
one suggested. and neither have we
been helped by our people. We have an
occasional guest and plenty Of food al
the time, and we have done 1t all our
selves by careful management and
there is nothing miraculous about it
LEONORE CALVERT