Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 September 1875 — Matrimonial Economy. [ARTICLE]

Matrimonial Economy.

In a previous article upon the financial aspects of the matrimonial question we pleaded for the exercise of common sense as one of the most important factors in solving the vexed question how to make the matrimonial books balance. We now propose to be still more specifiQ, and treat of economy as the golden remedy which common sense suggests to cure the ills of matrimony and make every household happy, contented and prosperous. Economy is the main pivot upon which the success of every household turns, and its study and practice are not beneath the attention of any lady. There is certainly as much for women to do in this useful direction as in the ornamental. At present 4he ambition of most women is to appear as queens in society, to be leaders of fashion, to shine in poetry and the arts, and in some instances in the sciences. This is very laudible if the more practical facts of economy are not lost sight of at the same time. Fashion never yet made a prosperous home; on the other hand, it has ruined many. The sway of society is not conducive to a healthy condition of the family exchequer unless the Queen has a Lord of the Treasury to manage the finances with skill. There are few eminent women in poetry, music, the arts or sciences who have been successful in the management of the household economy. Now it is an open question whether the study of economy is not as dignified, elevating and ennobling as any of the studies involving sentiment, polite literature or the aesthetics. The latter may give a cer, tain degree of grace and culture to the home (sometimes they do not give any), but the former adds thrift to grace. Culture alone never made a home happy. Culture and thrift together will produc e .happiness if anything eanr* -Is it not worth while, therefore, to sacrifice some of the sentiment in favor of the practical, and thereby combine the useful and the ornamental in that proportion which is sure to result in happiness and prosperity? ' Upon this question Dr. Lorenz Von Stein, one of the most eminent of the Austrian political economists, has recently made some admirable suggestions in a lecture to the German students in that city upon “ Woman in the Sphere of National Economy” which are worthy of reproduction in discussing this important question, although his statistical theories are somewhat at variance with American practice and American management of the household finances. Von Stein divides the entire family income into two distinct parts. The first, which depends entirely upon business and capital, belongs to the husband. The second part, which pertains to fiousehold economy, he subdivides into six parts. Four of these, including that part of the income to be devoted (o the dwelling, the standing wants, such as dress, light, fire and servants, the expense of sickness, death, insurance and recreation, and a certain sum set apart as the family savings-box for the subsequent benefit of the children, are to be under the immediate jurisdiction of husband and wife together. The wife alone has the sole charge ot the other two parts, which include the daily and weekly expenses ot housekeeping. He thereupon that the wife, who thus has charge of onethird of the life-economy and an equal jurisdiction in the other two-thirds make the closest possible estimates CfraTl, items of expense and of the prices and quantities of commodities. Upon this point and its importance he says; “It is more important that girls should know now much a family with an income of

1,200 or 2,400 florins should spend on flour and meat, turnips and sugar, than how much' nitrogen and oxygen enter into their composition—most important for them to know how much it costs to feed a lamp during a winter, and how much clothing and washing the household needs, or how rnurii fuel is required to'cook for five persons. With- this supervision over the expenses under her charge, the wife is to have the care of the house and see that all things are in order and nothing is wasted or lost.” There is a vast deal of wisdom and sound philosophy in Dr. Yon Stein’s suggestions, and they arc not altogether without a sentimental bearing. They have a very evident bearing upon connubial happiness, since good and economical housekeeping can make a happy home and bad housekeeping cannot. It would probably astound any person, even the most observant, to know how mucli husiness the divorce courts have done which has grown out of dirty rooms, ill-cooked meals, unwise provision of commodities, bad buying, waste of money, etc. Carelessness and improvidence have been the first steps in the ruin m liYawY-xiJ'amily, while prudence, economy and thrift are very sure to cement more closely the bonds of mutual love in the family. As Yon Stein says: “The frugal wife iu her neat dress at breakfast, who sends her husband to his business with good spirits, has more hold on him year in and year out than the spendthrift pleasure-seeker who tries to charm him in the evening by her silks and jewels.” —Chicago Tribune. The latest example of co-operative industry was recently shown at Monticello, Tenu., where the whole able-bodied population turned out to clear uj* tlieir cemetery. The church at Bethlehem Heights, N. H., occupies the highest point of ground of any church edifice in the United States.