Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09

I development, he has cxcmpincd tho
greater thrift. ~ is through such
deeds rs these that the world pro-
crosses. The man who Is pcnuriouS and
tight-hstcd is a dead weight 10 civil
ization. We who have the interests
OF the great thrift movement in Amer
lea 1T heart must realize that one OF
our chief problems is to teach our
fellowmcn that merely putting money
I'm savings bank is not the sum total
OF thrift The prudent use of money.
and the practice OF libcrality where il
could be afforded. have brought about
the development of the arts and sci
cnces and the manifold blessings OF
civilization. Nothing ever has been
accomplished solely through sclnshucSs
and greed. Men who acquire wealth 10y
merely pilinS one dollar on top of an
other are not good citizens i'm tho broad
est sense.
The other day 4 man said to me. Il
know a gentleman of great wealth who
drives to his business every day and
home every night in an automobile that
cost HIM $4,000. Is that thrift" And
| said, If this man does his duty to
humanity, is correspondence charitable,
and still can afford II $4,000 automo-
bile. he is thrifty. My friend replied.
Would YOU call it thrifty for q man
TO spNld $4,000 for all automobile when
one costing $1,000 would probably meet
all purposes? And ! said, Yes. the
man who can afford a $4,000 auto
mobile, and uses one. Is a valuable cit
izen. because he is placing Il premium
on skilled workmanship and brains.
which arc necessary 10 progress
The man who adorns his home with
expensive period furniture--with costly
rugs, and who maintains beautiful
grounds, is, IL he can actually afford
these things benefactor. because he
is rewardinE skill and artistic accom-
riishmcnt. The man who dimes from
costly china Is a more useful citizen.
II he can afford these things. than if
ne uses cheap crockcry, because in the
purchase OF fine chinawarc and costly
ihchs ne places ~ premium on the
development of the applied arts
TN" woman who buys fine gowns
and tine hats. who employs :, costly
m"dlNtc ana who uses expensive fab
RES IN her gowns, is not thriftlcss If
Shc can well afford these things and
lives up To the tcncts. | have hereto
i"rc stated In the true meaning Of The
greater thrift She might purchase "A
Su!t or Il gown that would cost 500
ana II would serve the purpose Of tho
one Tor which she pays $lGO bu, the
-" goes To unsl<illcd labor ana the
sweat shop. On the other hand the
Siuu goes to Skilled labor and n de-
sgner whose work is art
rtIRIr'r UNDERSTOOD
The French probably have had "a
hccucr understanding Of the si.
rliicancc OF the greater thrift than any
other people, and they have been known
for many generations as an cxceediuRly
prosperous nation. They have done
everything to encourage art and the
industries that demand skilled labor
ana the cmploymcnct OF persons of edu-
cation and refinement. That is why
TIA" average woman in America to-day
thinks that anything, from Il hatpin to
AN evening gown. if it comes from
France. is Il little better because or
its origin.
"fhcrc is a happy medium between
oNiraragancc aud RIGHTEOUSNESS. one
Of the evils OF the day lies in the fac,
that many Of us live far beyond our
I resources. jealousy, social ambitions,
business rivalry. personal eSotiSn, false
pridc-all play their part in the stri: t.
ana the stress and mad rush OF the
twentieth century. Many Of our false
economic conditions arc due TO this
bancful tendency TO overlive to over
spend. TO ovcrindulsc aud to ovcrplav
our part in life's daily round. ON tho
other hand, we have those citizens who
are cheap and tight-fstcd in their hab-
its--who are unwilling to reward Their
lS!iuwmcn for work Well done. With
them progress hats, they coutriluit &
liltic or nothing TO the uphuildinc OF
iAc things that are worth while. Mid
way between miserlnesS and eXtrav-
aEance lies the pathway of the greater
thirft--and ! say that II is In the bet
ter understan dinG OF this fact. and the
application o! ii In our lives and in
the lives Of those around us. that W.
have problem and an opportunity
What is the greater thrift II is
"a constructive thrift--it Is scientific
thrift is liberal thrift is thrift
that builds character II IL the thrift
ihat comes through education /, is
"" thrift that Is the basis Of all prog
rcsS IN art. in science, In business II