ECONOMIES AND EXPENDITURES. 380 



the complexion of the wearer, were also discussed; and in this field 

 the ladies were able to contribute many interesting observations. 



It was finally concluded, after a number of conversations, carried 

 on twice a week, that $300 a year would clothe the family in a neat 

 and respectable manner. Incidentally the question of making over 

 garments was brought up, and strange as it may seem to us, that 

 part of the question which treated of the limits to which re-making or 

 turning can be carried with advantage was brought prominently for 

 ward; for in that country careful women often go to the extreme of 

 repairing and making over garments w T hen they no longer pay for the 

 labor expended on them. 



One feature upon which the professor dwelt most emphatically 

 was the ever-recurring incidental or extraordinary expenses of the 

 family; and this is a matter of importance to both sexes and to all 

 classes. The breaking of a pitcher does not happen every day, but 

 in the aggregate there is an ever-recurring wear and tear of furniture 

 and household goods, which, as these articles must be replaced at 

 irregular periods, constitute what is called incidental or extraor 

 dinary expenses, though they are as truly ordinary expenses as any 

 other. The keeping in repair of furniture and other household 

 necessaries requires an average expenditure of $100 per annum, and 

 $50 more may well be kept in reserve to meet the demand for literary 

 and religious expenditures, and to provide for sickness, family pres 

 ents, amusements, etc. In a growing family, $50 must be set apart 

 for educational purposes; and the father may be considered an 

 economic man if $50 suffices for his incidental expenses, particularly 

 if as i n the case with most Germans he is addicted to the use of 

 wine and tobacco. $50 are also needed- for fuel, the economic use 

 of which, and the various kinds to be used, forms an interesting and 

 profitable topic. Finally, the expenditures foot up as follows: 



For house-rent $150 00 



For clothing 300 00 



For food 300 00 



For special expenditures 100 00 



For extraordinary expenditures 50 00 



For education 50 00 



For fuel 50 00 



For incidentals . . 50 00 



Total $1,050 00 



This leaves about $150 as a savings-fund, and is as little as ought 

 to be saved in times of prosperity; for as children grow larger, and 

 it may be desirable to send a son to the University, and as the family 

 may increase and times may change, no man ought to spend regu 

 larly a larger portion of his income than is here set forth. 



But many men in Germany have not an income of $1,200. 

 The great majority must live on $800, and even less. Let us, 

 then, consider the question how a similar family can live on $800, 

 remain out of debt, and be comfortable and respectable. The 

 first question is, &quot;Where can we retrench?&quot; We must at once 



