National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1871-10-20
/" How TO Live ON n Siypcnce II Day."

This is the title of II little pamphle
inst published by an English gentleman
DIR Nichols, in which he undertakes (,
show thot "the average man" can no
only live on sixpence day, but tha
such living like early rising, will max,
him hoa thy, wealthy, and wise Perhap
it was not to he expected that the six
pence day should cover the cost o.
clothes, housc-rent, rates, taxes, aut
other concomtants of civilization 81
we acquiesce with sigh in the propri
ETY. of leaving such matters ont of th,
consideration II is enough to be con
vinced that $50 far rs food and drink
are concerned, every one can live com
fortably, nicely, and hcalthiy, on Il six
pence n day" We are especially careful
to mark the word drink; for we remem.
ber that n learned Judge, being asked
upon certain occasion whether thirsty
locked-up jury might have some water
supplied to them, said that "as he didn't
think it was meat, and he was quite
sure it wasn't drink, they might be al.
lowed to have it.
We move cautiously forward, and the
doctor soon shows of what he is capable.
"Whether we eat milk, butter, or che SO
or beefsteak. or n mutton-chop We eat
grass at secondhand" he says and
all flesh is grass - he quotes in \ sense
which was certainly not Intended in the
Scriptural passage, and which would
Justify cannihalism. What conclusion
is he about to draw? ? Are we, in order
TO keep within our sixpence day, TO
follow the example of Ncb chadnezzar =?
But things are not quite SO bad rs We
fear. He puts his veto upon all flesh of
land animals; hut he allows an occa-
sional pennyworth of fish, and the grains,
fruits, and vegetables he recommends
are in number rs the grains of sand on
the seashore. If you wish to be real
epicure on siXpence IA day, ga penny
worth of potatoes and a pennyworth Of
dried Goldfish boiled together, then both
mashed and mixed together with n bit
of butter, make an excellent dish. Add
Il pennvworth of greens and you never
need dine better" OF course, if YOU
had to entertain some genteei person
age, you would add some cracked
wheat, mush, milk. sugar, and stewed
prunes. But the chief question IN all
these affairs is with what choice liquor
you are to wash down al thesa dainties;
and the reply is rain water Filtered, If
You Ike, but in any case, rain water
The doctor declares that it were far bet
ter TO drink even light wines than tea
and coffee, which, under certain circum-
stances. entail all sorts of diseases, and
especially paralysis and apoplexy. The
fare he appears particularly to rec
ommend is oatmeal assisted by rain
water; aud he desires this combination |
to be taken "in pleasant company, gayly |
md mirthfully, and in every ease, with
But has the doctor any examples to
advance of persons who have really |
lived on siXpence or less day? He |
as many; bit it cannot be said that
.heY are satIs actory or encouraging.
The cases he allndes to of persons who
ire believed TO have lived on very little
God, or ''none whatever" belong, rs he
ustly observes, to the supernatural or
Ter. The many abstemious saints, too,
whom he mentions by name. can not be
to strengthen his cause for
le undertakes to crafty the sCnses as {
veil as satisfy the mere bodily wants of :
men, whereas the abstemiousness of {
he saints was confessedly penitential. {
'or is the doctor more fortunate in the |
who according to his isaccount, {
live ON less than a sixpence a day" |
lie finds them in some poor-law unions, '
4 the Irish prisons, and in other l
laces; but he makes no attempt to show i
nat they find their condition ''deiehtful |
, the senses" or that, however healthy |
ley may be, they are wealthy, witty, i
/ wise.