Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-08-19
Life'S Problems
Are Discussed

twenty-five dollars n week! In
these days of mounting costs and with
| all the complex demands of modern
life, could you conscientiousIy advise
any one to engage in matrimony upon
1t so as to meet satisfactorily the re-
quirements of family life as they exist
to-day?
That is the problem which has been
submitted to me by a group of young
people in New York City who are very
eager to get married, but are sensibly
pausing to look-to consider ways and
means-before they leap. Here is their
! letter:
Dear Mrs. Woodrow: OF all the
many writer's in the various news
papers, we have chosen you as being
both popular and practical, and are
therefore writing you to ask your help
III solving the difficulty which con-
fronts US.
We are number of young couples
who have become thoroughly disgusted
in trying to figure out how we can get
married on twenty-five dollars a week,
since that is the average salary each
couple will have at its disposal, and
things are so high at present that the
proposition looks hopeless.
What we need, if it can be DONE is
to have some one tell us how on that
amount to secure and furnish a house
in the suburbs. how much money will
be needed for this and for a start at
| housekeeping, and also how much
should be set aside each. week for rent
and other living expenses in short,
the entire financial end of the under
| taking. Once started, we girls feel
competent to handle the housekeeping,
as we have all had practice at conser-
| walton during these war times.
There are of course dozens of ar
! ticles appearing every day touching on
the question, but they are for the most
| part only cooking recipes or household
hints. or else, What l Did in a Time
OF Need the experience of some one
III situation such as could probably
only occur in that one instance and be-
| cause of some special opportunity.
What we want is some sound, prac-
teal advise such as a father might
! give to son or daughter about to be
| married; only present-day fathers -
| ours, at least don't seem to know
anything about how things are man.
| aged nowadays, and so can give very
little real counsel.
Perhaps, though, you can help us
out of our quandry, or else can start
something set the ball rolling - to
| call out from others suggestions which
will be of aid to us. There must be
people who would take an interest in
! our case and be able to give us the
desired information. Please don't dis
appoint us. Mrs. Woodrow we are so
in need of help.
! Now. there is an appeal that cannot
fail to arouse sympathy. Twenty-Five
! dollars week. For two that means
| $3.50 apiece. How is it to be appor-
tened so as to cover rent, and food.
and clothing, and light, and heat, and
amusements, and doctors, and den
lists bills, and emergency expenses,
and insurance and at the same time
lay by something for the inevitable
rainy day?
Frankly speaking. I doubt If it can
| be done. Not in New York anyhow.
III other parts of the country where
the purchasing power of dollar is
greater, it might be a feasible under
| taking; but it must be understood that
III those places the salaries paid for
the kind of work upon which these
! young men are engaged would prob
| ably be proportionately less
Also am aware that even in New
| York many married people do live and
raise families and lay by money, and