Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28
FAMILY OF TWO NURTURED
Accounts Itemixed a. Exhibit Of Ac-
tual Expenditure.
EDUCATION COSTS $2s A MONTH
Skepticisim Net by the Husband in
a Frank Outline of Daily
Menu.

to every question worth the name, and
that it may at first seem trihe incred-
ible that family Of two can be well nur-
tured at the present prevailing prices on
foodstuffs by the expenditure Of 1880 per
week for table supplies, as set forth In an
article in last Sundays Star. the newly
weds, Robert and Mary, who have been
the subject of caustic, as well as friendly,
criticism in letters to The Star and other
Washington newspapers, last night an
swered in detail some of the queries
poured in upon them during the week.
In the article last Sunday they disclosed
that although the husbands salary Is but
$50 per month, they have found it within
the range of easy possibility to spend SIS
per month for educational purposes. the
balance of the salary being divided
among expenditures for rent, gas, medi-
cines and table expenses. The amount
Tor table supplies is but s. 80 per week,
and 1t is upon this item that the thrifty
housewives of the capital bounced forth
with.
After careful study Of the menus,
and prices given. some expressed them
selves as being certain it could be
zone. and that they kept their house
ciaI basis. Others, however. are de-
cidedly skeptical as to the ability Of
the young housewife to make state
ments jibe as detailed. querying the
couple as to how certain purchases
Some even went SO far as to express
the belief that Robert was unlike most
men In being very light eater. and
both might fall by the wayside from
lack of nourishment. Others said the
whole affair was pure fiction
Not Fairy Story.
AS matter Of fact, Robert and
Mary are real flesh and blood persons
who live but four and one-half blocks
from the State Department in the
northwest section. where they settled
just as was described last Sunday.
Despite the fact that he gets the small
salary named. Robert holds down q re-
sponsible position in the citys activi-
ties, and Is well known to many, his
work being of semi-public nature
mary is acquainted in certain church
she usually attends. Robert is far
from being dwarf, and Of a corre-
spending appetite, since he weighs just
IoS pounds and is six feet and one
inch tall Nor is Mary puny in any
sense. and both are hearty eaters.
Robert is a student In one of the pro.
fessional departments of university here.
and both of them throughout the fall and
winter have been studying Spanish in the
classes OF a native teacher. Both say
they are willing, were such a thing neces-
sary. to take oath as to the exact truth
fumes of the statement OF their expenses
Tor table supplies. Their only idea in
presenting the story as they did last Sum
day, 1T Is explained. was to pass on to
others tLeir experiences here. just as they
occurred. in the hope that they might be
of some benefit to these in the same or
similar position. Expenditures were
kept by the wife since the first days pur-
chaSes
Husband Answers Queries.
In speaking OF the questions that have
been fired at them by housewives the city
over. the husband answers as follows:
"A question most often asked in the
queries is concerning the purchase Of
eggs that are fit to use for as little as
twenty-five cents per dozen. They were
bought at one Of a popular chain OF
stores. WI ich is usually heavy advertiser
IN the daily newspapers. Mary has used
ter. and can truthfully say that in that
whole time she has not found a half dozen
eggs IL at were not good for use. Ger
talnly they are storage eggs, and WHILE
of course. the selected fresh eggs are
preferable for eating. for cooking and the
uses about the kitchen, the twenty-five
cent eggs are perfectly salts actory
These eggs have sold for % cents a dozen
until about ten days ago, when they ad-
vanced in price to % cents. The adver-
tisements Of these stores appear in The
Star and other papers. as even a cursory
perusal of them will show.
One questioner is greatly puzzled over
the way in which two pounds Of stew
to do for the meat of the menus for
Sunday and Monday dinner. The lamb
was served en- casserole, which, as e. cry
cook knows. is one of the most
economical ways in which to prepare
meats. In preparing this meat there is
added a bread dressing, which has been
enriched by chopped salt pork, and a
thick gravy. 1t thus is seen that two
pounds OF lamb. with these additions.
makes quite a substantial dish, an one
which we always find amply sufficient
for two meals.
His Lunch Satisfactory.
I'm justification Of the light luncn'
which / carry to work daily, I will
say that my work begins at 1880 o'clock
In the morning, and that at IL o'clock
I have my lunch. At 3 o'clock in the
afternoon we have our regular dinner
For this short time always find that
the couple Of sandwiches. q piece Of
cake or pie. and fruit which I carry, sus-
tains me well. My school work IL late
in the afternoon, and after my return
from there we usually have a lunch
1T might be Of interest just here to
state that Mary and each are twenty
six years old. The death Of Mary's
mother. when Mary was a mere girl,
and the eldest of family Of four chill
dren. forced her early in life to learn
the intimate managing Of a household.
From that time until the present, ex-
In Yanf1y
sity. when work at home during vaca-
tions kept her in practice. she has been
a housekeeper So. even IL she may be
called a 'newlywed.' 1t IL not correct to
class her with the young and mex
perienced.'
Attention has been called to the fact
that the purchases Of certain staples
necessary for the preparation of the