FAMILY ECONOMICS.
WE have been favoured with several valuable suggestions, and offers of co-operation in the formation of the Club which it has been our business to recommend. During the Christmas festivities we have suspended the discussion, but we shall in all probability revert to it next week—the subject is not evanescent. In the mean tide, we in- sert the following hints of a correspondent, which he gives as the fruit
of his own experience. "Your late publications have induced many persons to reflect upon the wants and necessities of the poor; and as the object is not to save to us indi- vidually, a great national saving may be effected by putting our servants on board wages. Experience has shown me that they are careful of every par- ticle of food left by their masters, and arc thankful for what they now would throw away. I allowed mine 10s.. a week, at their own request, and they told me they saved half.
"Many gentlemen would find board wages took a large sum weekly of ready money ; which would induce them to keep fewer servants. It is very difficult to retrench with those servants who gain nothing by it.
"A word as to club dinners and officers' regimental mess dinners. Many of the young men have never been accustomed to these luxuries, and can ill afford them. Officers' wives complain that their husbands and sons are made dissatisfied with their own homes. Surely this is not the way to train hardy soldiers ? " Are you aware that every tradesman bribes the servants, particularly the livery-tailor and hatter ; and that of all servants the coachman is the most cheating."
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