The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-08-23
On Being Thrifty
BY GERTRUDE WE'LL.

BY GERTRUDE WE'LL.
Once upon n time there was a writer
who was hard bcsct for text TO his
next article. lie had gone nll up and
Labor to the Care OF fables. and
was at Il loss for an acceptable theme.
SO he fell back upon the easiest thing
at hand-preaching thrift TO the poor
THIS writer is legion That is why
almost every paper OF any size or de
gospel of Saving your pennies" In
most cases the writer's themselves
would lie the FIRST 10 hang the Insignia
Of miserlincss upon thrift, if II we're
practiccd by th"ir own fricnds l:ut
that is merely by the way.
do not propose 20 set up as an icon
oclast. but just for the sake Of common
sense, let MS turn tho scarchIisht upon
this deceptive pyramid OF virtue
thrift.
received n letter not long ago from
friend of my school days, asking me
to pay a visit to her home rcincIn-
bered Grace as The life OF our trio uwo
Scapegrace for the scraps she got \uA
int0l; SO | locked forward with almost
she wrote IN her letter that they had
their own little home in the suburbs
OF fairly big city. They had just
made the last payment on the house.
ana were having Il little housewarninS
party Scra pcHracc ana Disgrace fthe
. tmlrd OF our triol had ho,h married
news to learn that one OF va 1T least
vas apparently on the high road TO
And then ! paid that visit. Well. the
house was all there. sure enough. fair
~ modern and really very pretty; but
Grace, our Scapegracc. our merry mis-
chicf-maker. was gone She was thirty
three. years old at this meeting and
She looked forty. Furthermore, her
house, her husband ana lier entire sur
thrift. .Thrift'. shriolted from the
a f1,f
parquct floors. Thrift" vas tn. name
OF this huindr.um. ecvery-day drah. AMI
stopped. and only spoke when he Saw
an opportunity to drag forth some
platitude about saving the pennies
II wna not until we reached the pri-
vacy of my room in the evening tina,
married Jack was earning 500
month. so shortly after their honey
future mode OF living. They resolved
that each week no matter what hap
In the bank. Suffice II 20 say that they
did IT. II meant going without count
IL meant that Grace had turned and
altered her trosseau and had not
bougH stitch Of new. clothing FOR
five years. when she did buy some
thing she WAS very careful not 10 get
anything too stylish, AS il might not
be in fashion long and she Was looking
for service. she never houph, any
thing that wasn't serviccabl.. conse-
qucntly she, never had q pretty ,hmg.
few convcniences, and Grace did all
the housework. This was all told 10
ought TO follow,
For Grace DID not pity herself ono
bit They had their home now and "a
small balance In tho oank. What mat
tered II II their home represented ten
years Of saving ana denial Jack ana
n theatre since their honeymoon. HIS
aihry had been raised somewhat, but
he WAS st!il keopins books - bird IN
the hand is worth TWO In the bush"
was one Of hie bvorite aNioms, and
shuddered when I though, Of thcir
lie and their future. Thcy had no
children. children arc luxury they
mow-well now Gacre wasn't 50 we'll
Poor Grace! She wass Tar from ycI.
years OF her lite--fo what For a
plot OF ground with house on IL that
they could call theirs. Tine pity OF II.
Grace's arrival the next day.
The arrival or Grace disgrace, her
husband and two boys the signal
for burst OF excitement. The bahlo
was dcafening, but my FIRST glance at
same old girl. She looked twenty-five
and prosperous, but knew she wasn't.
ways In some sort of trouble, but she
let us do the worrying for her she
knew she,d get out OF !; somehow
Grace" l asked as soon as We were
alone.
'Think-why. It's awful. simply aw-
full. They might as we'll be dead and
buried"
Blu, the house and" weakly in
oh, hang the house" she rejoined
ON phn t!caily rs She getting The best
out OF life That's more Important
Did yoy her dress Heaven HELM
US. where did she vesur-cctjit2 And
her music Dropped without thought
No time She said and besides they
weren't ready.
Except for Bob's insurance" and
few dollars In the bank IN case OF
sickness, We arc penniless, hut good
gracious we live. | wish YOU could see
our apartment You must make us a
visit as soon AS YOU can. It's the cutest
dearest place; every modern convent
tnce YOU can think OF. II makes
housework almost like play We've
saved whenever we could as we went
along, but not TO the extern; OF sacri-
is 100 elusive and nectinG TO be bar
tered for bag OF gold We're not
rich. nut we are enjoying life And
then there are the boys-Rob plays
the piano and Al violin, and guess
they'll look out FOR their daddy and
mothe. II we ever need it, But we
wont Well never be rich. but well
never want"
Needless 10 say. l heartily agreed
with her. so We Matched little plan for
the regeneration OF Grace. Her sancti-
monious airs about thrift make me
sick. said Disgrace She is simply