The Secret Of Wealth
132 total pages.
CHAPTER XXVI "Waste is not aristocratic--but vulgar." IKIN always tell if my mistress is a lady by looking in her garbage can," remarked a witty Irish servant girl. "Thim as belong to the ould families," she continued, "they have the cliverness and eddication to use the left-overs; never a crust of bread goes into the waste bucket. And you don't see a real lady shooin' her ould furniture out of the front door, and welcomin' the waggin from the store with a load of the newest style tables and chairs. But the womanwho hadn't nothin' a while ago, she thinks it's the proper thing to throw money away like it was dead leaves--she thinks that's bein' aristocratic--and she don't know that her waste and extravagance is hanging out an electric sign that she's ignorant, senseless and shoddy--all ov which she is tryin' to\nake folks believe she ain't." The Irish girl was speaking of families who had money enough to hire a maid--she did not know that the really poor and those of limited means are often more wasteful than even the newly rich who are trying to make a show. Mistaken ideas have led them to believe that economy in household management and personal expense is a sign of poverty. They foolishly think that to be ladies and gentlemen they must seem to be careless of money. The word thrift means to them something to be ashamed of; but to the established rich it means "the wisest possible expenditure of income and time to provide the necessities and, after that, a distribution of whatever remains that will yield the most out of living." It is all a matter of experience in the world and educationnot education in school rooms, but education by mixing with people. '' Altering the point of view is for some people the thriftiest act," says a famous woman instructor in household matters. Altering the point of view would keep hundreds of dollars in the family purse that now go for things not necessary to food, warmth, shelter, clothing, or a respected standing in the community.
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The Secret Of Wealth