The Carlisle independent., 1920-02-26
GEORGE WASHINGTON AND THE
 HIGH COST OF LIVING
How The Father of His Country Was Firm Believer in Thrift and How He Conserved His Fi-
 ndnceS

The Father of His Country had just as. much trouble with the High Cost of Living and with the proiteers as ! do his countrS's sons today. He ap- piled then the same remedies which they must apply now. He both used l and preached thrift, saving, wise buy ing and safe investment. And no pro- fiteer ever took advantage of Wash ington without being reminded that the first president knew he had been victimized and had no intention of having it happen again through the same man.
 1 In his early years, the planters of Virginia were forced to order nearly l everything from London, and they frequently were victimized. In re- gard to one bill, Washington wrote |: "1 shall refer you generally to the bills you have sent me, particularly for pompadour suit amounting to 16 pounds shilling and 6 pence al though without embroidery, lace or binding-not close fine cloth neither and only gold button that would not stand the least. wear.'
 To his bootmaker he complained that the last two pairs of dog skin l pumps lasted scarce double as many days. While he liked good clothes he believed in taking the best of care of them and it is recorded that but a short time before his death, when his horse unseated him as he was mount ing. that his first act was to brush off his clothes
 Although against ostentation in dress, he observed good taste. Writ ing as to uniforms he said to the Sec retary of War, q am against all eni- broidery but if it is on the cape, cuffs and pockets of the coat and none on the buff waistcoat, would it not have 9 disjointed appearance"
 Nor was he unmindful of the de- mands of fashion for Mrs Washing ton. In 1784 he wrote his agent in London: "A1rs. Washington would take it as a favor if you will direct Mrs. Selby to send her a fashionable summer cloak and hat, a black silk apron, one piece of penny and one of two penny ribbon fwhite) and pair of French bead earrings and necklace" ]"
 The lack of thrift by his mother was a constant source of worry to him and according to s. Wier Mitchell she was unable to resist the tempta tion to borrow and run in debt. in | 17S7 he wrote her urging economy suggesting; "a man. the maid, phae, ton and two horses are all you would l want. For the support of these would not require II of your income
 The condition of the money market and of exchange affected the First President as severely as those same economic conditions affect business men today. To his nephew Fielding 1 Lewis he wrote in 17S4; "You very much mistake my circumstances when you suppose me in a condition to ad- ! vance money. 1 made no money from my estate during the years 1 was absent from it and brought none home with me. Those who owed me took advantage of the depreciation and paid me off with six pence on the pound"
 The first President was not less careful in conducting the economic p,anaoement of the executive man sion during his tenacy than he was at Mt. Vernon. Samuel Fraunce, the well known tavern keeper of New 1 York was made chef de cuisine but was dismissed by the president for ex- travagance.
 On profiteers he wrote to Governor 1 Morris in ITS; "Can we carry, on the war much longer? Certainly not un- Tess some measures can be devised and speedily executed to restore the credit of our currency, restrain extor- tion and punish forestallers. With out these can be effected, what funds can stand the present expenses of the army and what officer can bear the weight of prices that every necessary article has now got to-"
 To his orphan neice Harriet, Wash ington wrote: You are now to learn your fortune is small. Supply the want of it then with we'll cultivated mind, and with disposition to frugali- ty." To his sister he said; Harriet has sense enough but no disposition to industry nor to be careful of her clothes.' On December 10, 1799, 1 days befort death Washington sent an advertisement to the Alexandria papers asking that all claims against him be presented to his agent James Anderson before January 1, 1900, "that l may wipe them off and start snew."
 Feeding Strawberry Plants Neces-
 sarY To Success