The Washington herald., 1910-09-26

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a woman writes to know II / cannot
advise her in some way how TO live
more economically. Her husband died
recently. she says. leaving her with three
children, one q girl large enough TO take
business position: the other two quite
small. All they have TO live upon is
what this girl earns. as the money the
| husband had saved. not very large
amount has been used The father died
OF consumption, and the daughter who
works is not very strong She IS In a
factory. the mother writes. and every
day II seems 10 me she gets thinner and
paler. I acknowledge ] am not good
manager I try 10 make both ends meet.
But before the week Is out my money IS
gone. and I do not know where. Can't
you tell me how 10 plan better?"
This woman has rather a desperate
problem on her hands, but she recognizes
her defects, and she is so willing and
anxious TO remedy them that she surely
VIII win out
In the first place. the daughter should
be taken out of the factory. Her health
should be the first consideration. It
would be a wise step for the little family
10 move 10 some small suburban town or
country place, where rents are cheaper,
living less expensive, because a few hens
and a little garden will help, and where
tho kind OF work the family can do can
be found.
The best thing for the daughter would
be to go into some nice family as a
helper. There are plenty of housewives
who would welcome her with open arms.
Her health would be the better for such
work, and in many a home she would be
almost one Of the family. She might not
like the idea, but II she does her work
well and conducts herself with dignity
and self-respect she viii not lose caste
She will make a place for herself and be
respected and admired for her pluck As
time goes on and family finances grow
easier. she might take a course in do
nestle science. Plenty Of good positions
are awaiting such graduates. 1t is a
rather new field. and at present very
empty one
II the family are In such straits, the
mother might find work occasionally In
the homes of the town. 1t is not a time
for false pride. And any woman who
does her work well. no matter what that
work may be. has the respect Of the right
sort OF people. In a certain small town
is woman who at one time was quite
well of. She has a large. comfortable
home on the suburbs finest street. But
she has lost everything but this home,
nd Ia Iao
band IS an invalid. her son of little ae-
count, and the only other member OF
the family is a daughter too small to be
OF any help That woman takes In wash
ing. does housekeeping, anything by
which she can earn an honest living and
keep her home. And the neighbors an
plaud. When she comes 10 make a call
they ask her to come the next day and
do the washing They think all the more
of her because OF her pluck.
Since the writer of this letter saws her
money is gone before the week Is out.
and she does not know where It has gone
TO. il would be well for her to make |
memorandum OF each thing as she buys
IT. Let her Keep a pencil and a piece OF |
paper handy, and every time she spends |
a cent let it go down on the paper At
the end OF the week, or even at the end |
OF the day since quick action IS neces- |
sary to improve existing conditions. LET /
her go over the account carefully and /
She will soon see where |
she can retrench. Too much has been |
spent for this that need not have been
bought It is wonderful. when expenses
are before one in black and white, how
strongly wrong propositions in buying
VIII stand out, how quickly one can see
where to improve. how this expense can
be cut out and that one reduced. Know
Ing what she has TO expend, she can by
LOOKING over the expense account see