The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-11-18
EU ening Chat
What Are Necessities?
BY RUTH CAMERON.


| What queer things financial stand
ards and the standards by which we
determine luXuries and necessities arei
We were reading in the newspaper
the other day a letter from a woman
who was telling how difficult it was
to live on eighteen dollars a week. She
told of various hardships (the chief
| one seemed to be lodging bill collect
ors) and ending plaintively, And 1
never had a hat that cost more than
| twelve dollars"
The visiting lady was greatly
amused at that. 81 never had but one
hat that cost me more than seven,
she commented. THAT cost ten, and
1 felt fearfully extravagant when 1
bought it. Yet I don't think my hus-
band ever made less than thirty dollars
a week, even when we were first mar
ried." s...--
And, as I happen to know, he makes
at least double that now. And yet she
considers ten dollars for a hat fear
fully eXtravag ant'i
That's study in standards for you.
And here is another.
A magazine agent was telling me
about her work. Il feel very proud
of what I've accomplished today" she
said. Il persuaded a man to let his
wife have a subscription to my mag
azine. 1 happen to know she's been
wanting one for years and years
she's a woman know PERSONAL---VERY.
he didn't think it was necessary. Poor
folks? Hardly! You wouldn't think
so if you could see their house, but he
just doesn't consider magazines a ne
cessity or even a juStifiable luxury
AS 1 listened to her 1 thought of a
little house where the bookcases are
overfl owing with books, and the tables
are thickly Uttered with a delightful
disorder of magazines. This house is
rather shabby, and so are the master
and mistress, and I heard the mis-
tress say the other day when a friend
of hers was bemOaning the increased
price of her favorite talcum, Il never
bought a box of. talcum powder in my
life
Rich But Too Poor for Specialist.
Not long ago a neighbors baby was
very ill. Thinking to be helpful, we
told her the name of a specialist who
in a similar illness had saved the life
of a friends baby. "Oh, guess Dr.
l. is all right" she said, naming
general practitioner of moderate
prices and no great repute. And neith-
er trained nurse nor specialist did they
employ, though the baby lowered at
deaths door, and is still puny. And
yet they have twice the money of the
friend for whose child the specialist
in question had been called into con-
sultation. Only they aren't the kind
of people who spend their money for
that sort of thing.
Nothing reveals anyone's character
more surely than the things for which
he will and will not spend money.
Show me mans check stubs and
expense account and l Will tell you
what manner of man he is
Question. I have been married several
years and have been a faithful wife and
mother. My home was happy at first and
my love for my husband would have al
ways continued except that he is bestowfng
the love and attentions that belong to me
on another. He still supports his family
to 4 certain extent but all the spare money
and time that would make me and my
child happy he spends elsewhere. Is 1t
better for us to try TO rekfndle the old
love to sever the ties that unite us for
ever?
Answer. Circumstances greatly alter
cases like this. Have you grounds for a
divorce with alimony2 If not. could you
support yourself and child? OF course it's
better to rekindle the old love if you posi-
bly, can. Can't you consult some faithful
friend who knows the exact circumstances? !
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