The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10

Everybody is talking economy; 100 men
are figuring on the city's finances, and
thousands of women are endeavoring to
live cheaper. If men calculated as closely
in their business affairs as women are
forced to do in their housekeeping de-
tails (the most of them, there would be
better general condition and fewer
moody men. 1t is no uncommon thing to
hear woman say, MY husband comes
home from his office 'grouchy. over
burdened by business" when probably
he Is more perturbed over the conditions
of his methods, the wastes and lack OF
consistent expenditure in his operations.
II q woman is given an allowance, no
matter now limited, she is pretty apt to
figure closely on her margin, and she
reduces practically from a personal
knowledge of her household conditions,
while a man is more often dependent on
an auditing system. Somebody must go
over his accounts and point to discrepan-
cies. His affairs are larger, OF course,
but the big things seem great deal
easier to handle than the nagging details
of necessary penurious housekeeping
1t would be interesting to have 100 women
gather to go over the problem of their
affairs, the stretching of "a pounds OF
-four into the making of a few more bis
cults, or the economy In using 81 worth
of sugar when the men do so love dough-
nuts. The advantage the woman has she
often has the material to work with even
though limited, and the man is solving
| the problem of getting the same. Both
i sides OF the question involve forethcught,
| management and good spirit.
This thing Of making money ends meet
| is great problem; 1t works out on paper
beautifully, but just try the same game
in practice and you'll find the figures
| stand, while the materials are consumed
| in double quantities.
A woman takes her allowance each
week and before ordering she thinks she
can calculate to save some money, but
when the truth Is realized she Is certain
to find you cannot figure on cooks and
appetites-they both get aheal OF you
some way.
But 1t Is interesting, this thing of try
ing to make ends meet Life Is problem
all the way through. We have to calcu-
late on everything we do. not only In dol
lars and cents. but In justice and service,
In LIES welfare.
II we were not interested in the ma
terial things that not only pertain to our
own home, but others. life would ebb out
through a very narrow channel, and
what would be the use of living!
So this committee of 100 men is solving
problem for Birmingham. for you and
me. AS 1t were, they are auditing the
city's affairs that they may cooperate
with the officialk for the general good OF
the people.
II a committee of 100 women (from
every church. or neighborhood In the
city, for these are the women's nffini-
ties) were called together to look into
the affairs. this committee would begin
at the home conditions. for there she lie
at her best, and q wonderful powe
would begin to cover the district for
good. In spite OF all the giving, in
spite of all the help. there is mission
airy work needed in the homes OF our
|neighbors. People are hungry: people
are cold; mothers are sick, and babies
need warm clothes--the home needs a
friend.
We may all throw in and give a dol
lar and but them some bread. How long
will 1t last?Well soon have to give II
lagain. We are told of 1t. "The same old
case; we are tired Of IT, But mark you
have you been to that home: seen that
sick mother bowed In trouble. wreck ed
by i'll health, helpless to change this
conditionb BY hFself? 90 sometimes t.