Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1915-01-31
Xantippe Dialogues

"Well. I'm discouraged" declared
Nantippe. throwing down her maya
zine, here ! subscribed for the Ma
irons Minerva, because they adyer-
| TIED such a wonderful series of ar
tleles on How to support a Family on
a Workingman' Salary; ! thought
| might be able 10 find out how to
make both ends meet on what phil
| osopher could earn. | wish you would
read those articles Socrates; | be-
| live ] could do better myself"
Not the least doubt OF II in the
world, my dear, said Socrates; why
! don't you try III"
IF 1 weren't so busy with making
! over my old clothes for Lydia, ana
making running pants for Alexander
and darning your socks, and keeping
books for the Associated Charities,
maybe ] would And while we are on
that subject, | may as well say that
after this, Lydia will have to have
her clothes made by a dressmaker
She is as tall as ! am now, and when
her skirts have to be heightened once
more, ! shall have to give up the
job. I'm sure | don't see where the
money Is coming from" said Kan
tlppe despondently.
While you are about it, mamma,
can't you have my winter suit made
Mt the tailors?" asked Lydia. you
know very well that the coats our
dressmaker builds don't have a bit
of style
Then | shall have to go without
a suit myself said Xantippe We
certainly cannot afford two tailored
suits in one season.
Cant you find something ready
made at less cost2" asked Socrates;
Alexander and ! do that"
You ought TO see Lydia In a ready
made!" retorted Xantippe; you'd
never ask that question again. Her
wrists stick out of the sleeves like
pump handles. Ct wish her figure
wasn't SO much like your mothers
Socrates). And as for Newell /
always say store clothes were fitted
on fairies
And father put In Alexander,F
I've been meaning to speak to you
about that None of our fellows are
wearing hand-me- downs any more IL
was all very we'll for peg-tops, but
with the trousers we wear now, YOU
just have to have them made for you.
Agapoulos has some snappy samples
and | wish
What are some Of the suggestions
IN the articles you mention?" Socra-
ties interrupted addressing Xantippc
% the silliest things! one woman
who makes a detailed list of ex-
penses puts down in her bill Just
one pair of slippers for the year
nothing else, stays in when it SHOWS,
| suppose, or takes a taxi, Most of
them get light for dollar or two a
month, and water for fifty cents One
Keeps her kitchen fuel bill (she uses
gas) down to fifty cents q month by
means of the firelcss cooker Evi-
IDENTITY their minimum for gas is not
one dollar one out of four gives to
her church ana 60 charitable objects
the princely sum OF ten dollars a
wear. Most of thcm, nothing. None
ot them ever have appendicitis or
toothache, or broken collar bones
ttheir sons do not play footbalD they
all do their own cooking and sewing
and make their own hats, / suppose
one could get along without furs. but
then wooden under flanncls are ave-
fully expensive. In those families.
two children are allowed. but nothing
Is spent upon the storkl Goodness
me- When ! remember about the ex-
pensive baby foods we had to have for
Alexander, and the trained nurse
when both the babies had scarlet fe-
yer at once. and the naby carriage-I
never would permit child OF mine to
risk It's life In one of those absurd
little go-earts.-l think it's almost
cheaper 10 have them in college"
socrates took advantage of Kan
uppe pause for breath TO escape fos
the nonce; knowing fun we'll, that
she would certainly have it out with |
him later.