Economy For The Winter

From the N. T. Tribune. The end of September a year ago inaugurated one of the most curious reforms wbich ever took place in our social history- a reform based at first ou ueilher a reason nor a principie. Every man began to economiza before he feit any lack of money ; uot because he held economy to be a virtue, but because he doubtad bis neighbor's fiuancial credit, just as uow he does his roligion, and for no better cause. Not knowing what business or speculation to trust, he resolved to button up whatever money he might have in his pocket, and by all means possiule to keep it there. Economy was for a while literally the fashion ; it was the proper thing to have " invested in Northeni Paciflc, and to find it expedient to contract." Now, when the general diatrnst and coutraction have made the evil reality, aud ecouomy is a necessity, we do not practica it wuh such complaoencv and airy grace. Just at present, when the Summer noliday is over and the head of the firm or faiuily are planning the Winter's cainpaign is the time wnich they take to decidu how aud when the pinch and tiehtemug shall be made. In most oases the object 13 to inake it, not where it shall be least feit, but where the next door neighbor shall not find it out. Brown, finding his snel vea f uil of goods which sell too niowiy ior nis needs, retains his ornamental platoon of salesinen butdooks the pay andnuinberof his hands who workout ot sight. His wife cuts down the waees ot her seinpstress, dickers with the waskerwomun over every week's bill, but drives as usual in the Park beaiad her blooded bays and liveried footiaea. The same systeui of petty scrimping and iiljudged expendituro runs into every olass and grade. The master carpenter's wife prouounced ainong her neighbors as a generous housekeeper and (on the basis ot her dress aud parlor furniture) " a pertect lady," finding allowanoe cut down one-halt, turns off the poor woman who has sewed for her, and buys her under wear ready made, saving enough in this way to treat herself to & Parisian Winter dress, a mass of coarse cloth, tapiñe stitches, and tawdry bead-work The sewing woman in her turn is driven. to these ready made clothing shops, andwill mako for the rest of the winter, calicó wrappers at twenty-fivo cents eaeh and other garments in the same proportion. The témale employés of the mili, recently closed or running on half-time crowd tha doors where this work is given out glad of this chance to escape starvation' ihe other chance which offers itseJf to both sewit.g woman and miü-hand docent, iüithful domestic service, they turn irom as involving a loss of caste. Tne cook or ohambermaicl at Brown's or even the carpenter's houss, is paid at nearly doublé the rates of " sales-Udies" in the smaller shops. The sales-Udy ludges in a garre aud hves on starvation diet, while tue cook has at her disposal all the comfort and dehcacies which her employer can command tor himself. The motive in this niadneu lies iu the much abused name of " lady ;" and it is this motive which accounts for the hunrtreds of wouieu, driven, by their own showing tothe brothels of New York for bread. This appetite for vulgar display and struggle it.c siiam positiou has served the Tribune and all other social Mentors as a never faijipg text fur years iu their crusade against the shortcomings of our half-educaled classes. It was apparent enuugh in the days of lavish expeuditure, tiut it is oddly more uuticeable iu the recent atteuipts at economy. The man, who, wheu iu Europe, ñinga his mouey abuut to the ainusemeut anü gain of all shopKeepers, is the man who iu the hard tiines of the coming winter will doek the wago8 of hit, wurkraeu to spand the moaey on opera or bU tiukets. Any appe.il to hun vvould be wasted. Wixan weiifth is held to be the oio qualiücatiun to rank or respect, wt-are not likely willingly to betray our laok of ït. Thorü is a ciass of mtional and cultured men and woman whonv it ruay be worth while to remind just now that the saving of money is not sometiines the best hum:inity or econoiny. We fail to see the wisdom of discharging workmen or servants whose wages wonld ainount to hundreds during the winter months, and before the winter is over subscribing thtïusauds to benefinial societies of soup houses. Nor is it better policy to denv ourselves suddenly the comforts and luxuries upon th manufacture of which the majority of city operatives dppend for thuir daily bread. These remarks, of course, only apply to the wealthy class ; but there are uone of us who should not carefully consider how our small surplus funda could be expended in wages rather than in alms.