The Washington herald., 1909-07-12
FROM WOMAN'S
POINT OF VIEW

have been asked. more than once
within the past month If girl should
marry a man with a salary o. Sl5 or less
a week, and IN each case 1 have advised
serious consideration before taking such
a step II Is a clever woman who can
make such a sum cover the living eX-
penses for two. to say nothing Of what
may be added 10 the family from time
10 time. There are women who are mar
vels OF managers, and they would never
hesitate 10 face the future with man
VINO could earn less than SIS week. but
they are scarce. They are the result OF
careful training on the part Of mothers
who have had TO plan and pinch for
lifetime.
II girls were brought up TO thrifty
ways. to home-making with all it means
there would be no danger in facing life
on a limited income. They would be
yeritablA helpmeets for hard-worSing men.
But girls grow up with real hatred for
domestic work. for economy and narrow
incomes. and they are not good wives
for poo- men. one Of the sensible women
OF my acquaintance recently deprecated
the tendency Of young women 10 avoid
work and their willingness to live on the
bounty Of relatives or the favor OF
friends.
Many a day I have spent at the tub
and ironing table TO do UP the clothes
in which 7 sang at night" she told me,
and I was not ashamed OF il. even
though 1 was paid S25 for a few songs.
I saved my money for better purposes"
I thought or the girls know and Won
dered how many of them would do up
q shirt waist II there was nobody at home
tc bear such burdens. Not many, I am
afraid; they have not been brought Up TO
such homely tasks ! know one or Two
who would do their best TO meet the Sit
uation, however, even though the results
might not be satisfactory.
The petted daughter Of a family whose
income was liberal chose 70 marry a
young man who began al the bottom or
the ladder and meant 10 work his way
20 the top. Her parents offered no OBJ
jections because they liked the man and
believed every girl should have the priv
ilege Of choosing her own husband. All
offers OF parental assistance were re-
fused because the young husband had
sense and pride and the wife believed in
him They took tiny apartment IN a
modest surburb where rents were cheap,
but neighbors were not objectionable, and
the bride did her own work and had the
time Of her life, she declared.
She had TO give up many. nearly all. IN
fact, Of the luxuries to which she had be-
come accustomed. but that did not bother
her bit, and when I last saw her she
was exulting over the msrvels Of econo-
mics she had achieved Her family
would not allow her to suffer privation.
but at present she is rather independent.
and is being allowed 10 work out the
problem OF living on a little. The ex-
perience viii not hurt her they say 10
everybody who comments on the girls
choice. and in their hearts they are enOr-
nously proud of her because. among
other things. she selected a trousseau
suited TO the wife of a Workingman.
There was an abundance OF simple,
pretty clothing. but not a garment that
was unsuitable for her modest surround
ings. That young mans wages were ex-
actly SIS a week. and II there are more
: like his wife 7 say. smphatically. Marry
On that sum-, BETTY BRADEEN