The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1872-10-25
NUMBER II.
A Specimen of Cheap Living.


during the past week. On Sunday
morning last I thought I would try
for week the EXP reriment of living
cheaply. Sunday breakfast, hulled
/ southern corn, with a little milk. Ny
breakfast cost three cents. I took
exactly the same thing for dinner
Food Tor the day, six cents. 1 never
take any supper. Monday break
fast, two cents worth of oatmeal, in
the form of porridge, with one cents
worth of milk. For dinner, two
cents worth of whole wheat, boiled,
with one cents G worth of milk. Food
for Monday, six cents. Tuesday
breakfast, two cents worth of beans,
with half cents worth of vinegar.
For dinner, one quart of rich bean
pOrridge, worth one cent, with four
slices of coarse bread, worth two
cents. Food for Tuesday, five and
half cents. Wednesday breakfast,
hominy made of southern corn Tper-
haps the best of all food for laboring
men in hot weather., two cents
worth, with one cents worth of sy-
rup. For dinner, a splendid beef
stew, the meat of which cost two
cents. A little extravagant, you see.
But, then, you know, "a short life
and q merry one" Perhaps you
don't believe that the meat was pur-
chased for two cents? But it was,
though The fact is, that from an OK
weighing 800 pounds net, you can
purchase certain parts weighing
about 100 pounds, for three cents
per pound. Two-thirds of pound
make more stew than I could eat.
There was really enough for two of
us. But then, you know how care
less and reckless we Americans are
in regard to our table expenses, al
ways getting twice as much as we
need. | must not forget to say that
these coarse, cheap portions of the
animal are the best for a stew. The
very genius of waste seems to have
taken possession of me on that fatal
day. I poured into my stew all at
once, slap-dash, a quarter of a cents
worth of Leicestershire sauce, and as
if to show that it never rains, but it
pours, closed that gluttonous scene
by devOuring a cents worth of hOm.
my pudding. Food for Wednesday,
eight and a quarter cents. The gross
excess of Wednesday led to a very
moderate Thursday breakfast, which
consisted of oatmeal pOOridge and
milk, costing about two and a half
cents. For dinner, cracked wheat
and baked beans, two cents worth of
each, milk, one cents worth. Food
for Thursday cost seven and n half
cents Friday breakfast, southern
huIled corn and milk, costing three
cents. For dinner, another of those
gourmand surfeits which so disgrace
ed the history of Wednesday. Ex-
penses for the day, eight and quar-
ter cents. This morning when I
went to the table, I said to myself,
whats the use of this economy ?"
And I made up my mind that for
this day at least [ would sink all
moral restraints and give up the
reins to appetite. have no apollo
gy or defense for what followed.
Saturday breakfast, began with one
cents worth of oatmeal pOrridge,
with teaspcoBful Of sugar, worth a
quarter of a cent; then followed a
cents worth of cracked wheat, with
half a cents worth of milk, then the
breakfast closed with two cents
worth of milk and one cents worth
of rye and Indian bread. For dinner
1 ate half of q small lobster, which
cost three cents, and one cents worth
of coarse bread, and one cents worth
of hOminy salad, and closed with
two cents worth of cracked wheat
and milk. Cost of the days food,
twelve and three-quarter cents. In
all these statements only the cost of
material is given.
Cost for the week Jftty-four and q
quarter cents. OF course, l don't pre-
tend that everybody can live In this
luxurious way. 1t isn't everybody
who can afford it. I could have lived
just as well, SO far as health and
strength are concerned, On half the
money. Besides on three days, I ate
too much altogether, and suffered
from thirst and dullness. But then
Imay plead that l worked very hard,
and really need a good deal more
food than id,ers. By the
way, weighed myself at the begin
ming of the week, and found that it
was Just two hundred and twelve
pounds. Since dinner to-day l
weighed again, and found that bal
anced two hundred and twelve and a /.
half pounds, although it has been a
week of warm weather, ard have |
had unusual demands for exertion of
various kinds.
But let me feed a family of ten |
instead of one person, and I will /!
give them the highest health and |
strength upon a diet which will cost /
not much more than two dollars for /
the ten persons for a week. Let me |
transfer my experiment to the far |
West, where wheat, corn, oats and |
beef are 80 cheap, and the cost of /
feeding nay family Of ten would be so |
that I dare not mention
it, lest you laugh at me. And so far /
frcm my family group being one of
ghosts or skeletons, I Will engage
tbat they shall be plumper and
healthier and happier, with
clearer skins, brighter eyes, sWeeter
breaths, winter teeth, and, in addi- /
tion, that they shall live longer than
your DelmUnico diners, each Of whom
spends enough at single dinner to
feed my family of ten for week.
And last, but not least, they shall en-
Joy their meals more than your Del
moniCO diners.