The Topeka state journal., 1919-08-16
There Are Many Ways To Make
the Family Mare Go.
Mrs. Smith, Jones and Brown
Discuss NeighbOrs.
SOME JUST BEAT THE WORLD
Others "TOuch the Old Folks at
HOme."
Many Pay for Luxuries by Max
ing Many Sacrifices.

How in the world do some people
live like they do?"
Mrs. Smith and Mrs Brown and
Mrs. Jones we're gossiping about their
neighbors and giving the H. c. OF L.
monster a good tongue lashing.
"Don't ask me how they live" Mrs.
Smith said. why there are the
Bumbkers who live next door to us
know absolutely that Mr.. Bumbker
does not make more than SIPS a
month. Yet he has a wife and two
children and a big automobile and his
family wears better clothes than we
can afford"
"Ain't it a sight how some people
dol" Mrs. Smith chimed in. There
are the Flivvers who live right across
the street from us. They don't have a
thing except what he makes-and I
understand that is not enough to make
the banker sigh when he cashes his
monthly pay check. Yet they have ev-
erything. Why he goes away on fish
ing trips, spends few days at Excel
whole family has been up in Wichi-
gan all summer Why to my certain
knowledge that man Flivver has seven
silk shirts and my husband says you
cant buy a silk shirt that is worth
wearing for less than S12. I'd just like
to know how they do it,"
Some Have Everything.
"And there's them Smithers that
live out on Rocks avenue" Mrs. Smith
came back. why, honest TO good
ness. they have everything and Mrs.
Smithers told me down town the other
day that their grocery bill averages
S55 a month. They pay $40 house
rent and have a car and everything.
They have a beautiful home, but I'll
bet they haven't a cent and 1 have
heard they owe everybody in town"
Mrs. Jones. the philosopher. of the
gossipers had said little, but in her
modest, quie way she broke into the
conversation.
We'll, 1 have always heard that
one-half Of the world never knows
how the other half lives. and I have
often thought that 1t was not their
business any way. I have been thru
lot OF ups and downs in my life and
I'll tell you folks can get along in
all kinds Of ways and do all kinds of
things when they have to. A lot of
times when you are envying folks who
seem to be getting along better than
you are. you really would thank your
stars you are not in their fix If you
knew all the facts.
"A lot of people who seem to be
living beyond their incomes really are
doing so and are taking no thought
OF the rainy days. But not all of
them One family here in Topeka
that I know is having some of the
luxuries Of life by working hard for
them. The lady does all Of her own
washing and sewing and the man
raises all Of his vegetables and even
half-soles his own shoes. I'll bet their
grocery bill will not run higher than
$40 a month and the money they don't
have to spend for groceries goes for
gasoline and clothes and trips.
Wash for Luxuries.
There is one family living out on
Lincoln street that seems to have
about everything and the head of the
family does nothing but odd Jobs. How
do they do IT, you ask? Well, I'll tell
you. His wife has an electric washing
machine and she and the children do
the washing for all the neighbors
around them. She told me the other
day that some weeks she makes as
much as $40 taking in washings.
4 know another family consisting
OF a man and his wife. The man is in
poor health and cannot do much work.
but they are getting along nicely. They
have horse and wagon and are doing
a huckster business. She gets up at
o'clock in the morning and goes out
to meet the farmers and buy their
produce. Then both OF them get on
the wagon and spend the day peddling
what they have bought. They have a
little stand down on Jackson street
and after peddling all day they take
what tney nave LETT over to the stand
and keep open until IL o'clock at
night, II necessary. TO sell II.
II know still another family that
seems to be like the one Mrs. Smith
mentioned. I know what they have
as a steady income and 1 would won
der how in the world they managed
on II II I did not know some of the
inside facts. Here is the way they
work It: When they just have to have
money to meet their bills they get
busy with the family. Recently their
creditors were pressing them pretty
hard and the husband said to his wife:
Honey, you will Just have to go home
and visit your folks next week. It is
a shame for you to stay away from
them so long-you know your mother
thinks 1t Is awful for you to do So
500 From Her Dad.
''Well, the next week she went to
Springfield to visit her family and
when she came back she proudly
showed me a check for $500 her
father had given her. That is the
way some of them do. 1t is ali right
for those who like II. Every family
must live its own life you know and
what difference does It make to one
half of the. world how the other half