The Brinkley argus. (Brinkley, Ark.) 1883-current, 1919-10-16
sEAsELEss SPENDING
AND WASTE IS MENACE
Thoughtless Men and Women Revel In
Era Of Prosperity Resulting From
World War and Pay No
Heed to the Morrow.
BY FRANCES N. cocLlN.


1t is with feeling Of real anxiety
that we notice the tendency Of the
people of America to spend thought
lessly. They Go not think of the NOR,
row: only OF what pleases at the pres
emit. In the matter Of buying clothes,
young women Of moderate income
plunge extravagantly into the pur-
chase of such apparel which means
not only the spending Of the last
months wages but also anticipating
next months salary or whatever linn
tied income they may have. e5z. "a
!. Is it worth while to spend all on
dress and unnecessary articles that
will be discarded few months hence,
and then, instead of having saved
something. you will be just where you
hegan-with nothing?
Today, even with the state of unrest
throughout the country. it is day of
great prosperity. Never in the coun-
try's history have people sought the
pleasures of summer resorts in such
great number as during the past sea
son. Never have motor parties trav-
eled In such great numbers and to such
great distances as within the past
year. e,a
This is not done by the people that
we have heretofore looked upon as
the rich class, but tits those who
have always been the most humbly
situated individuals who are enjoying
this era of prosperity the most. Money
is no object, and the saving Of it is
totally disregarded. The country has
gone spending mad" The people
have made great deal of money dur
ing recent years. The contracts and
transactions of the wartime period
have filled the pockets of many. We
have only to look around and see the
evidences of it everywhere
Here are few instances of how
money was spent, in spite of the high
cost of living, not alone by the affluent
citizen, but by the person who had
always considered himself, before the
war, anything but well-to-do person:
More money has been spent on ex-
pensive clothing, which in very
short time is discarded, than in any
previous year
During the summer season just gone
by people have given to summer re-
sorts the greatest number of visitors
and the best season for money-making
ever known in our existence" The pre-
ceding words in quotation were heard
in a conversation between a resort
representative and a guest, express
the sentiment of resort keepers all
over the country
The most expensive hotels were the
ones most crowded, just as the most
expensive clothing is the kind which
is the most freely bought.
Foolish spending, such as gambling,
is illustrated in the manner in which
the great masses gathered at Saratoga
Springs during the racing season,
where, to use the vernacular of the
citizens OF that city, money flowed
like water"
Americans-is it not fair that you
should invest some of this money that
is spent SO carelessly and that was
made under wartime conditions, in
the securities that our government has
to offer? While you are helping your
country clean up" the aftermath Of
the war, moral responsibility will tell
you that you are only in small way
paying back a favor which she ex-
tended to you when going through the
most harassing period of her existence.
Both young and middle-aged should
think this over and even though we
should eliminate the feeling of duty
to and regard for our country, there
still remains the fact that all this
senseless spending is like the SOW