Newark evening star and Newark advertiser., 1915-05-01
THE BRIDES
OWN STORY
Alice Woodruff. .
To Whom Do the Household Savings Be
InnR2

long?
"Of course, all you men will stick
together on that point" pouted Bob's
sister Claire, with whom we dined
last evening. We had been discuss
ing the decision of Brooklyn IN. W
Judge, who some time ago decreed
that the money a wife saved from her
household allowance belonged to her
, husband. Claire grew quite bitter
about 1t.
Just think of scrimping and scrap
ing for years-thinking up meat sub
stitutes, mendlng and patching every
body in the family, denying yourself
new hats, In order that you could
have something laid by! Then, after
accommodating a little bit, have some
man rise up, with the majesty Of the
law in back Of him, and politely COM
mand you to turn over your savings
to your husband Here's where
come out strong for suffrage! No
woman judge would have given such
a decision!"
An Interesting Example.
Claire's big, good -natured husband
laughed gently. Lets be perfectly
fair. Supposing a woman sat in judg-
ment-what would happen2"
why, of course. she would have
decided that the wife was entitled to
keep the money she saved herself"
flashed Claire swiftly.
Guess I'd better referee this argu-
ment," suggested Bob as we rose
from the table mo use, I know
you'll take Leonard's side" said
Claire, resignedly, land he keeps on
insisting that the money was earned
by the husband, and, therefore, be-
longed to him until 1t was spent for
the family"
Lets come down to cases." inter
rupted Leonard. Here's brother
Bob with a responsible job. His
chief trusts him to buy the tools he
needs. This year he spends less
money on tools than last year be-
cause he knows more about buying
them and using them. Does his en-
ference? Not much
The "Firm's" Proht.
His employer maybe thanks him,
and in his heart he's glad he's hired
a reliable young man who Is on to
his job. The money stays in the
treasury for the benefit of the firm.
Then why should the woman who
manages the business of the house
be allowed to pocket tho difference
between what she really needs for
her household and what she can get
from her husband?"
Hit the nail on the head, old man"
exclaimed Bob. Household savings
belong to the firm. They don't belong
individually to the husband to do as
he pleases with, nor to the wife an
she pleases with regardless. Be-
cause, in my opinion, the family
helps save money by being satisfied
with cheaper food and mended cloth
ing, just as much as the wife helps
by supplying her family In this eco
nomical fashion. I'm strong for the
joint bank account, where all earn
ings and savings are for both hus-
band and wife to draw upon"
That's fine If neither is extrav-
agant," qualified Leonard.
A joint Account.
well, 1t seems to me that II there's
common goal, both husband and
wife are more likely to be self deny
ing than extravagant. If you had
decided on owning your own home
and you both planned to save every
cent you could in order to get 1t you'd
very likely be willing to forget about
your new fishing outh, md Claire
would be quite satisfied to cut down
millinery bills" wound up Bob very
earnestly.
Come into the fracas, Bubbles, the
waters fine!" laughed Leonard, COM
ing over to my chair. Whats the
opinion of the Experienced Bridef"
"I'll have to be just an echo in this
performance" replied, because
Bob and I operate on a joint account
basis in our house, and I know It
works. Wait until save some money
out of household expenses and then
I'll let YOU know what happens to itl''
you'll have long walt" Bob
told Leonard, as he explained that
our scheme was not to set aside a
definite sum for household expenses,
I'VE have a budget and know what
limit we must not exceed, but draw
whatever money I need, and the rest
remains In tho bank on deposit. So
at the end Of the month never have
any leftover household sums In my
purse"