The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-01-07
says UNCLE CIV

To the Christmas stripped toiler
there should be something very attrac-
tive in the idea of pleasures in econ
omy.' The chastened condition of his
mind, the penitence of his conscience,
the fairness of his pocketbook and the
grimness of the general outlook all
shed a new and searching light upon
the art of making ends meet. For, be
it remembered here, that if one puts
enthusiasm behind one attempt to
economic, it becomes an art and a
thing of beauty.
Ordinarily, there is little joy in saw
ing That is because there is no en-
thusiasm in it. Without enthusiasm,
one sees only the ugly side, the de-
privations, and the sacrifices. That is
the view of the average person who
seems to have no more of wealth or
comfort than he needs and who looks
hungrily at that which he does not
yet possess. 1t too often requires
great wealth to bring about the APP
probation of the blessings of poverty,
and it is to rich men that we are in
debted for this notion, which the rest
of US are only too ready to reject
without a hearing.
AS matter of sober fact, most of us
eat more than we need and of food
that is not suited to us. That food
ordinarily costs more than the simp-
Ter kinds which would contribute more
We wear better clothes than we need,
live in better houses than we need, in
dulge in luxuries that hurt rather than
help US and generally double our ex-
penses without improving our condi-
tions.
The pleasures of the simp4e life, the
basis of which is sane economy, are
rather more real than those of the life
luxurious. But few of us lead or de-
sire to lead the former existence. The
grip of the great god ostentation is
strong upon our souls and we strive
rathed for show than for we'll being
There is an all engrossing art in liv-
ing simply and effectively. 1t is sure
ly no mean thing to achieve a pleas
antly varied diet that makes for the
highest efficiency of body and brain.
Brain building and body building are
two of the most important, if not quite
the most important things in life.
There is little doubt that this is the
chief business of men. And no man
has found the way to splendid virili-
ty of mind and muscle through expen-
sive channels. To dress simply and
we'll is a matter of the cultivation of
taste and the familiarizing of oneself
with the values and uses of fabrics
little more. To overdress is barbaric,
and most of us achieve barbarism
without going even that far. An artis-
tic economy is not to be confused
with that utterly foreign thing which
is described as niggardIiness or miser-
liness The object of the former is
the wellbeing of the man; that of the
latter the accumulation of wealth.
Wealth misused is a curse, which
truism cannot be too often repeated.
A good economy is the proper use of
means. miserliness is misuse and
mania Economy was never anything
but sanity, niggardliness is always in
sanity.
If you are living beyond your means.
quit worrying. There is simple, sane,
happy way out of your difficulty It
may require a revolution in your life,
but go chances to 1, that revolution
will be the best thing that ever hap
pened to you There are scores of
things, little and big that you can lor
off and b. the better for the elimina-
ton. If you don't know anything
about the pleasures of economy" now
is good time to learn.