Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-22


to the cost of living that we are be-
coming weary of the phrase and more
weary with the struggle to reduce the
cost within the limits of our various
incomes 1t has been said that man
earns and woman spends. This is
largely true of the family. although
there are exceptions and both contrib
ute to the income by outside labor Be
cause 1t is woman's function to n
great degree to spend the money for
the maintenance of the family it is
important that she understand eco
homie conditions and thus be enabled
to spend more wisely. There is no
doubt but that a woman understands
the value and purchasing power of
money much better if she has had an
opportunity to earn money by her own
labor. If she has never had this priv
ilege then it will be necessary for
her to study the problems more close
ly if she is to be fitted to spend to
the best advantage.
Our problem is not learning to live
on the very smallest amount of money
possible but learning to spend all we
have to the very best advantage. This
does not mean that we should not save
if our income Is sufficiently large to
warrant it but that We shall provide
for those under our care in such a way
that they shall be most efficient and
best able to fill their place IN the
world. Economy is not spending as
little as possible but is spending
thoughtfully and wisely. One person
may wish to spend less on clothes in
order to have more with Which to
buy hooks Another may wish to live
more simply in the home in order to
have more money with which to travel.
What is economy for one may not nee
essarily be for another. We must
choose and decide what things are go
ing to give us the best and most of
life and what things we can afford to
do without.
This is where home economics train
ing is of inestimable value. 1t teach
es US how to live the big, free, useful,
/ happy life No matter what we do,
happiness is our chief aim. We earn
money that we may have it to spend
in ways that will give us pleasure.
Life and service is our chief end. And
the better we are fitted for living
the greater service can we render and
the larger our share of happiness will
be.
I'VE have thought sometimes that
/ Ignorance is bliss but no longer does
that appeal to the emaneipated woman
and even the men who have feared our
! intelligence are beginning to prefer
g. woman who works with we'll in
tentioned plan and understands the
problems with which she has TO deal.
We are beginning to realize ourselves
! that knowledge is power and If we
are wise we shall regenerate society.
ana If we are foolish. hasty and undig-
nified, we shall lose more than we
| gain.
"A study of the income and how it
car best be divided to serve the best
purpose helps very materially in de-
Gliding how best to spend the means
available.
Estimates have been made material
having been gathered from various
places showing how, various incomes
have had to be divided in order to
care for the families under investiga-
ton. The amount spent for food can
not vary to such large extent as ex-
| penditures III other lines if the proper
/ nourishment is secured. =
"a few figures will bring the problem
| before us:-According to Ellen H.
Richards the ideal diversion of the in
come should be food 25 percent.-rent
| 20 percent.-operating expenses Is per
cent.-clothing Is per cent-higher LIE,
etc % percent. However as the in
come becomes less the percentage for
food becomes higher and less remains
! for other things
For a family of two adults and two
or three children equal to four adults
the division of an income of $4,000 would
be according to Mrs. Richards as fol-
| lows
Food ESQ, equals $1,000, equals &c. per
meal.
Rent 900, equals $500. s6666 per month.
OPP. Elk. 1870, equals 5000.
/ Clothes 20Ge, equals $500
Higher life 20Go, equals $500
The division of an income of 500
would show quite a change in per-
centage:-
Food 500, equals $500, &c. per meal.
Rent so, equals SIS. S625 per month
Op. Elk. 5%o, equals SO.
Clothes 1870, equals $50.
Higher life 1890, equals $50.
The medium income OF $1,000 would
show the following
Food 800, equals $500.
Rent 2096, equals $500.
Op. Elk. 1900, equals 500.
Clothing 1850, equals $50.
Higher life 259o equals $3.50
We can easily see that If the ideal
division were applied TO the $500 in
come and % per cent. were spent for
food We should have for the year only
S125 or a little less than three cents
per meal, which would be inadequate
for any kind of efficiency
"Statisticians tell us that about 10
per cent. of the male adults in our
country are earning less than $500 per
year Therefore we must consider
their problem as we'll as our own.
"At the University of Maine and other
places where home economics Is taught
the students learn the value of foods,
prepare menus which shall come with
in a certain definite limit. This can
be done in any school or home with a
very little thought and planning. Our
girls need this kind of training II they
are to be efficient citizens. the time
will come when there VIII be Sc