Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-11-09
Economical
Agnes
By Adele Mendel

What are you looking so blue
about Agnes? AS though you had
been stepped in indigo. Isn't the latest
fashion in hair dressing becoming to
you or has your father cut down your
allowance" asked Celine
dad hasn't diminished my allow
ance, but doubled 1t on the condition
that don't attempt to economic any
more
Has he had brain storm?"
Indeed not. He says my economies
cost more than other peoples lux
uries. My Isle stocking income and
silk stocking proclivities don't coin
eide.
THE first time wore my white
serge suit Jack and l were at the Tea
| Shop, where the waitress split
glass of ice tea over it, Jack be-
moaned my fate. l smiled serenely,
trying to show what a nice DISPOSE
| ton l had. The next day l dipped the
gown in gasoline, but l had taken the
wrong jug, it was kerosene"
WAS 1t ruined?" asked Celine.
I'VE sent it to the cleaners, but
| nothing would eradicate that odor.
After using three bottles of imported
violet perfume on it hung 1t in the
back yard to air. When it seemed
safe to risk wearing it, the skirt was
gone, stolen"
another time / thought 1t would
be sanitary to give our bath tub
fresh coat Of enamel. Dad brought
home portly millionaire friend from
Kansas. Father wanted Mr.. Smith to
| invest some of his surplus cash in a
certain stock company. Our guest
said upon retiring he'd think 1t over.
Mr.. Smith is accustomed to taking an
early plunge. The enamel wasn't quite
dry, and he stuck to It. After repeat
ed calls dad rushed to the rescue.
At breakfast he was as surly as a
bear and snapped at me when sug-
gested a remedy. Father didn't dare
mention stocks, and we have never
seen or heard from him since"
did you ever try your hand at
painting after that?"
Eyes, our porch furniture looked SO
shabby painted the chairs"
They look just like new"
"Oh, these are the new ones. We
couldn't use the others. Father and
mother were going automobiling.
While mother was waiting on the YER
anda, she exclaimed suddenly in the
most aggravated tone: Look at my
new silk dress 1t was spotted foul
ard, l assure you, spots Of green
paint all over it. After we thought the
chairs were dry some one would dis
cover daub Of paint on their suit.
Dads patience was finally exhausted,
so he bought these rockers"
rs your brother out Of town." ask
ed Celine.
YES"
There's some class to him when he
wears that light gray suit"
Don't mention that suit to me.
Bob said: Sis, get rid of my gray suit
/ don't want it any more
"One Of those Armenians came to
the door with suit case of kimonos
and l exchanged the suit for silk
kimono."
What an excellent idea. What did
Bob say about your business abil-
ity?"
"I'd hate to tell you. He nearly col
lapsed when he found had traded the
new suit
Mother had selected new refrig-
orator at what seemed an exorbitant
price. l attended a furniture auction
sale, and after waiting four hours
procured an Ice box all porcelain and
glass for only ten dollars more than
the other would have cost. When II
came it was 16 inches too high and
10 inches too wide for the pantry
did you send 1t back?"
mo; 1t was bought on the condition
that it could not be returned"
Don't you trim your own hats?"
mot since / blackened my leghorr
with shoe polish. Jack and | were
caught In a rain storm. Jack gave
one howl. You look like coal blacl
lady!' he roared. The shoe polish hat
dripped off.
Another time l had needed m,
whit, pique skirt in hurry so the
cook washed it and put it in the over
to dry and turned the gas low, l for
got all about it and the skirt wa.
burned to crisp.
But that wasn't even as bad as tn,
time / dyed my last blue messaline
coronation purple"
WAS 1t success?" interrupte,
Celine.
mo. the dress became a hideou
purple, but the pan containing the dy,
slipped. The sink, the table, the wall
everything was tinged with violet TIL
maid threatened to leave, said sh
never worked in a purple kitchen, an,
never intended to. We had the wal
cleaned and raised her wages"
81 certainly don't blame your fa
Their"
You needn't sympathize with him
My allowance won't be doubled YER
long. Jack says he thinks l woul
make dear, sweet, economical wife.