The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-01-22
TX I-UNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR

PIX l. I-UNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR.
Wifs's Effort ut Low Living Under
High Prices.
Such is the title of small book published
w Ticknor & Fields. The writer accepted
hxation as an assumption by Congress that
hat sum would be sufficient for the mainte-
ance of family, and that all beyond was
practically a surplus which the receiver could
Fell afford to have taxed. She adds :-"The
Neople have assented to this view of the case,
4 Fd have patiently borne the burden of the
ost obnoxious tax ever imposed upon them.
do not know whether any Of the legislators
Vho passed the law have ever tried the ex-
eriment Of living on so small a sum; but,
ldging from the high salaries they receive,
heir eXTavagaDt allowance of mileage, and
he great additional sums which they last
Fnter voted into their pockets, l am disposed
b think they never knew how hard it was to
- We, themselves, on the small allowance which
ey considered sufficient for u.s."
However, thousands had to live on such a
ttance, and the record of one is given in this
QoN, from which we proceed to make a few
ktracts. The lady thus describes the "situa-
on" at the outset
Humble as was our position in the great
1orlo, we had a certain status to maintain.
e must live in respectable house, we must
kess eenteelly at least, and keep a servant too.
+. % do all these was now a heavy tax. Prices
" pr everything were steadily rising, thus con-
Sanity enCToaching on the fixed income winch
~ husband received.
Provisions and clothing were thus so high
hat, Notwithstanding the recent addition of
fo hundred dollars 10 our former income, we
i'll bad but the old sum OF six hundred year
a Ike upon. The landlord had doubled our
Int, and from the scarcity OF dwellings we had
Zen forced TO remain where we were, or give
"a Housekeeping altogether. host of aDpli-
.Rnts stood waiting tO secure our pleasant little
4 bme If we should decide to give it up. But
4 careful calculation had convinced us that it
MAS really cheaper to live as We were dong
Ihan to board, besides being so much more COM
prlable IN our own home, than we could pos
by be II cramped up IN one or two rooms OF
|OaIdiug-hOuse.
4 Our residence was in thriving manufacture
. Q town, where my husband was employed in
Hperintendiug the machinery in one of tho
ctoues. His salary of eight hundred a year
as very small, but he hoped to win promotion
N close attention to his employers interests.
e had seen among our friends so many lament
bile instances of trying to become suddenly
ch, many times by speculation, that we had
isely determined to be satisfied for the pre-
& mt with bare competency, rather than come
M grei through extravaganza or business VEN
res on false capital.
The writer gives numerous details of
busehOld expenses and econo mics, tells of
+ pr little garden, and what came Of it, and
h lters into minuti@ which cannot be quoted
. lre, but which presents the problem of life
a narrow income in simple and intellIgible
rms. AS to her table, she says:-
,0Ir table was plentiful, but plain. For break
|st we always had good bread or rolls IN sum-
er and in winter griddle-Cakes OF buckwheat,
lhNat, or Indian meal, with fried potatoes,
= oiled mackerel, or fresh fish, an omelette,
biled eggs, or meat stew, made of the remains
W Yesterdays dinner; but only one OF those
f ems at time. For dinner we rarely DIS
eused with meat or tish, because Arthur
W seded strong food to sustain him under such
ose application to the duties of his position.
ut we bought only the necessary quantity, and
ldom lndulged III large joints and fine poultry.
turkey for Christmas, and a goose or ducks
= r New Year, with a chicken now and then
roughout the year, was the extent OF our ex-
erience in the poultry line. B1t then, every
by there were nicely cooked vegetables, fre.
lently OF our own raising, and PLAIN good pud-
cal we needed but little more than tea and
= asst, with dish Of Clipped beef, sliced toma-
les, or ripe fruit.
II d friend came to take meal with Us, our
lie " as to make no deviation from our usual
IRE. might, II is true, set the table with
reater care, and display my incest dishes and
nest tabe-lnen because this cost me nothing
at little trouble. But, on principle, we re-
aimed from useless protusion. We could not
ford to make feasts or TO give parties, and
hile we endeavored TO fuse hospitality with.
it grudging,n ealso remembered that TO live
n yond ones means is not consistent either with
sson or religion. In my own visiting expe-
elcc, however, always found that a warm
ebcome and cordial spirit was a surer source
eradication to the guest, than a table loaded
lth costly viands.
in the last year of the war "Arthur" was
F rated, and went into the service. The house
as rented and on his return the family again
Dok possession. We quote:-
II was astonishing even to ourselves, 90 find
6w soon we were again at home, as well in our
qliugs as in our employment A few weeks
lficci to bring back the old routine of every
hy life together with my former plans for
OusehOld expenditure. There were many
Oanges to be made in my allowances and
imates, for wages had risen as we'll as other
bngs But then we were better able TO pay
be difference. We could not com plain OF these
hen our income was so mRch larger. 1t was
longer only eight hundred, out had grown
fifteen hundred, with respectable sum In
ioyeTnment funds. Upon the WHOLE now that
was al over ] sometimes began TO think thai
was a good thing for me that my husband
ad been drafted; for we were so much better
fl now than year ago. No doubt ] should
ave thought very differently had any calamity
happened to either of us in consequence.
As wages went up, prices went up ais D
nd the writer had to change her base
lightly. She says:-
began my history with the intention O