The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1869-06-24
What Ii Costs to Live Abroad.


We see it stated in an exchange that
the hero OF Fort Sumter has gone abroad,
in order to keep his expenses within the
income provided for him by our Govern
ment. We are tempted to remark that
the public has no business TO surmise
that such motives have led to his expat
ration. that 1t Is a shame that our Re
publican simplicity" allows us to pinch
our heroes In the matter of support. 1t
is within our personal knowledge that
another gallant man, who proved himself
savior of the Union at an important
crisis in the late war, is trying to make
both ends meet by residing in Germany,
because his salary as an officer does not
permit staying at home. lnasMuch as
we cannot expect justice to be melted out
to our public servants, nor prices to come
down for their special accommodation, it
may be worth while TO, them and many
others, to study the facts bearing upon
the method of outwitting old Hard
Times, whose roar is driving our Gen
erals and Commanders from the country.
The cost. of living in European cities
has rapidly advanced within few years.
In the South, where the multitude focks
during the winters, it is cheaper than in
| the North. Florence, which used to be
one OF the cheapest resorts. has become
almost as expensive as New York, good
board being scarce at less than eight
francs a day, 1. e., about 50 in currency
Yet, exceptional opportunities may be
found, as IN every city, where one can be
comfortable at less expense. The writer
hired q well-furnished parlor and bed
room, centrally located in quiet, pleas
ant street, for sixty-fve francs a month,
and found good table board in the neigh
borhood for three francs day. In Pome
one can live, artist fashion, still cheap
Ell, but then one must leave Yankee
notions" at home. Naples is expensive
for foreigners who have not very sharp
eye-teeth to cut the constantly multiply
ing webs of Italian spiders, for the cum
ming of Neapolitan landlords is proverb-
ial. There are health resorts, like Men
tone, Nice, Cannes, where one can spend
more than at home, without any effort
whatever.
But just north Of the Alps is the real
haven for ships that cannot pay out
long anchor cable In Switzerland one
may spend the year round in the midst
OF delightful scenery, sit at well served
tables, sleep In fealess beds, and enjoy
the advantages OF good schools tor children
at an expense of six francs day. The
cooking is proyerbial for excellence: and
during the summer one can live whole
life of ordinary enjoyment in week S
rambing-not tourists o.imbing-in the
less difficult paths OF the country. There
are winter harbors. too, in Helvetia, at
Montreux, Carens and other places,
where the winds are tied and the cold is
not severe.
In German cities prices are moderate,
except in Berlin, and some other towns
where the foreign population has caused
rise. One can board at a private
hotel in Dresden for so or 60 thalers-
counting gold thalerS as currency dollar
e month. On the other hand, pleas
ant home can be secured in a medium
sized house tor about half that price. In
Paris one can live as one pleases and pay
| accordingly, in more literal sense, than
anywhere else IN the world London is
very expensive. To sum up, the average
ordinary cost Of living in Europe is some
what less than it is here, but the much
greater cheapness of many srticles-cloth-
ing, books, and miscellaneous extras
renders it tempting paradise to owners
/ OF emaclated pocket-books.