Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 March 1919 — ALLOWANCE TO CHILD IS ROAD TO ECONOMY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ALLOWANCE TO CHILD IS ROAD TO ECONOMY

Home Economics Expert Says Way Is to Teach Youth Early Proper Apportioning , of an Income. “The best and most natural way of beginning true national economy, wise spending and wise saving,” says Ruth Wardell, head of the home economics department of the University of lowa, and who last summer started a home economics department in a Cleveland (Ohio) bank, “Is by giving the children an allowance. The lesson of properly apportioning an Income thus is early learned.” Miss Wardell favors the allowance arrangement at a very early age, say at six or seven. It may then be very small, and out of It the budding citizen may be expected to provide only school pencils, tablets, etc. The purchase of school books provides a logleal next step; a little later some personal belongings, such as shoes, may be added. “I say shoes,” explains Miss Wardell, “because children seem to take more Interest in shoes than In most articles of wearing apparel, and be-

cause shoes represent a highly Important item to which children frequently pay little heed.” The allowance should provide a little margin to encourage careful buying and saving possibilities. It should not necessitate so much care or thought as to burden the growing youngster: It should never, under normal circumstances, be "helped out” by Irregular gifts or expected to cover other than the recognized Items. The allowance, with Its purchasing responsibilities, should be Increased gradually, steadily. By the time high school Is reached the boy or girl should be buying practically all his or her own clothes. Miss Wardell tells an Interesting story of a boy who called upon her in Oleveland, telling her of his manner of apportioning the rather generous allowance made by his father. He knew to a penny what every article he wore had cost him; he was intelligent regarding relative textile and wearing values; he saved steadily, systematically, with joy. A Chichgo mother started her little daughter out, similarly, at eight years old and at sixteen the girl was a better buyer than she was. These chll-

dren were well started on the road to line aad -nulf respecting and-tndepend-ent citizenship. Both will enter college with a nice little financial nest egg to await the beginning of their business or professional life. The child’s allowance, It may be added, should be for neceslties mainly, with but a fair and modest margin for personal luxuries and pleasures. It should always be recognized as allowing for a regular proportion of savings, preferably Invested In governmental securities. It should be carefully adjusted, rigidly adhered to on both sides of the bargain. Such respect and observance not only will teach the child good economic habits, but will abolish many too frequent annoyances for the financial head of the family., v “ Each child given an allowance will understand that this sum, with his support and other parental provisions, represents his fair share of the family income, and that, as a decent citlcen, he must not ask nor expect to exceed it. An adequate allowance system, moreover, will obviate the evil habit of crying or pleading for special indulgences and more funds. •‘-THINK BEFORE YOU SPEND— Diamonds? Why Not W. S. 5.7 Diamonds to the value of $2,000,000,000 —more than half the available world supply and value —are owned in the United States of America. Pretty things, diamonds, fascinating to watch, pleasing to wear, of high commercial value. Diamond prices rise every now and again, truly, but the rate of increase cannot be precisely calculated, and the risk of owning diamonds is large—unless they're tucked away in the safety deposit vaults where no one ever sees them; Now $2,000,000,000 invested In government securities, War Savings Stamps, for example, would mean much better times for the country. Why not, for the sweet girl graduate, the bride, wife to be honored, War Savings Stamps Instead of a diamond? Bright thought! r The War Savings Stamps notf and the diamond five years later —out of the War Savings Stamps profits when they mature.

Flxing the Allowance.

Buying His Own Goods.