The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1872-10-29
MISCELLANY.
CHE41P LYING.


sensible people are laboring under the delusion
that the increased cost of living threatens lis
with want, if not starvation. When we come
to look into the matter with care we find that
this fear is without foundation. Let us take
then the article of food that is most harped
upon by these alarmists, and we will find our
selves quite independent of augmented prices,
if we consult only health and comfort instead
of, as heretofore, our morbid appetites. Now
if the head of any family will strike, out two
items in Iis.narket bills, he will find the cost
reduced one-half. These items are known as
meats and butter Now, animal food is not
essential to health or strength. On the con-
traly consumed as it is in disproportionately
large quantities, it is a positive injury instead
of a benefit. As for butter, it is simply a
luxury, If we go yet further and strike out
superfne white flour, that is made by extract
ing from the grain it's healthier properties,
leaving little except the starch, and substitute
cornmeal or unbolted -four we continue the
reduction of our bill and make decided advance
in the direction of health. Considering ones
health and comfort only, the head of a family
consisting of five persons, say-can be COM
fortably supported on thirty-five cents day
in the way of marketing. In illustration of
this, DR.. bio Lewis celebrated physician,
well-known for his writings in Massachusetts,,
gives us a weeks experiment in this line,
which we republish for the benefit of the
poorly-paid and over-worked clerks of Wash
ington, whose wives take in sewing, and whose
children are reduced to the awful condition of
selling the morning papers. Here is what can
be done practically when health and comfort
are alone consulted. But we must add, how
ever that the man capable of putting this into
practical operation would not be clerk in
Washington He would have murdered
head of bureau and gone West to grow up
with the country long since.
at is now Saturday afternoon, and will
tell YOU in confidence little of my personal
private experience during the past week.
con Sunday morning last thought would
try for week the experiment of living cheap
ly. Sunday breakfast, hulled Southern corn,
with a little milk. My breakfast cost three
cents. took exactly the same thing for din
ner. Food for the day, six cents l never
take any supper. Monday breakfast, two
cents worth of oatmeal, in the form of por-
ridge, with one cents worth of milk. For
dinner, two cents worth of whole wheat, boil
ed with one cents 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 a half cents. Wednesday
breakfast, hominy, made of Southern corn
(perhaps the best of all food for laboring men
in hot weather. two cents worth, with one
cents worth of syrup. For dinner, splendid
beef stew, the meat of which cost two cents
A little extravagant, you see. But then, you
know, "a short life and merry one.' Per-
haps 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 eight
hundred pounds nett you can purchase certain
parts weighing about one hundred pounds, for
three cents per pound. Two-thirds of pound
make more stew than could eat. There was
really enough for two of us. But, then, you
know how careless and reckless we Americans
are in regard to our table expenses always
getting twice as much as we need. must
not forget to say that these coarse, cheap por-
lions of the animal are the best for stew.
The very genius of waste seems to have taken
possession of me on that fatal day. / poured
into my stew, all at once, slap-dash, 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
cents worth of hominy pudding. Food for
Wednesday, eight and quarter cents. The
gross excess of Wednesday led to very
moderate
Thursday breakfast, which consisted of
oatmeal porridge and milk, costing about two
and half cents. For dinner, cracked wheat
and baked beans, two cents worth of each;
milk, one cents worth. Food for Thursday
cost seven and half cents.
Friday breakfast, Southern hulled corn
and milk, costing three cents. For dinner,
another of those gorlnand surfeits which so
disgraced the history of Wednesday, Expen-,
ses for the day eight and quarter cents.
'sThs morning when / went to the table, /
said to myself, What's the use of this econo-
my?' And made up my mind that for this
day at least / would sink all moral restraints,
and give up the reins to appetite.
Saturday breakfast, l began with one
cents worth of oatmeal porridge, with tea
spoonful of sugar. worth quarter of cent !;