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Show 6AVINQ MONEY ON $5 A WEEK. Vnr GlrU Who Hire Two Eooms nnd v 14t Together as a Family. . The question is asked over and over gainf "How do girls who are employed la Btores and shops at small salaries live?" It would be surprising to knowthe number num-ber who manage to exist on $5 a week, and who have discovered the art of making $1 go as far as $2 would ordinarily. "Save up money on 5 a week?" asks some incredulous person. There are not many, it must be admitted, admit-ted, but four poor girls, each working from 8 o'clock in the morning until 8 at night, three as salesgirls and the other in b shop, have for two years been trying the plan of co-operative housekeeping, which promises to become a perfect system for working women who cannot afford to board at the place they prefer, or become dissatisfied when they undertake to try cheaper places. When the store where three of the friends work has closed for the day the three proceed to the nearest corner, where they are met by the other member of the family, and the four walk home together. Having heard of the pleasant times which these girls have at their apartmonts and being desirous of seeing for horsc-lf how the plans are carried out the writer, by special invitation, recently took an evening meal with them. The house is on a side street within easy walking distance of down town, and the room up two flights. The latter is a largo apartment and has three windows, which ore prettily draped with dotted muslin tied back with yellow ribbons. Tho walls are tinted with a pale cream color and the whole interior showed the good taste of the occupants. A folding bed of cabinet shape, in the ' front of' which is a long mirror, and a broad couch, which is also a bed; two easy chairs, one rocker and several other chairs are all the larger pieces of furniture. In front of the door leading to the side room, which is used as a kitchen, is a large screen, evidently of home manufacture, but decidedly ornamental. Two sets of shelves adorn the spaces between be-tween tho windows, and these are filled with books. There are also a few good pictures hung about, and on the mantel-pi mantel-pi oce nro little ornaments and pretty things, watched over by a small bust of Dickens on a bracket. While tho writer was admiring the neatness neat-ness of tho room and praising the general appearance one of the girls had tet the table. There was no array of silver, but the dishes were dainty although there were not many of them, and the food was not spoiled by apologies, and everything passed off smoothly, for all were hungry. After a while the cost of the meal was considered, and found to be just 48 cents. That did not include sugar, butter or coffee, cof-fee, the former costing the girls 30 cents a week, butter about 50 cents and the coffee the same. Two cans of condensed milk at 13 cents each bring the total up to $1.46. At the end of the week the girls make up their cash accounts, and the expenses for the family amount to about $4.80 on an average. They hire the room unfurnished, with the exception of the beds, and consequently conse-quently are able to hire at the low price of $12 a month. In the same room which has been mentioned men-tioned is running water, and many shelves have been "built in" to make things more convenient for the housekeepers. The gas stove, bought at a bargain, is Bet on a little raised platform in the corner, which is covered with a neat oilcloth. Tinware is hung up all about, and everything every-thing looks as orderly as possible. They do not find time for many fancy dishes, but they have plenty of wholesome food, and appear to enjoy thoroughly their manner man-ner of living. Occasionally they are invited out to spend Sunday or to tea during the week, but they feel very much at home in their cozy room which they have occupied together so long, and think thoir friends who have such doleful experiences in bunting up boarding places and trying to live on small salaries would be much more contented if they tried co-operative housekeeping. Boston Globe. |