Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1874-02-23
THE COST OF LIVING.

THE COST OF LIVING.
In Boston and other New England cit
les, the papers are discussing the abov
subject, and we think it might proftabl,
be taken up in the country. 1t is a tim,
when economy must be practiced, ant
as the cost of living, among the rura
people, constitutes their chief expense, {
careful investigation of this subject will
be Of use to all. Among the chief ex.
penses of living, may be reckoned food.
clothing, fuel and the cost of sickness.
The proper use of food is to nourish the
body, but We demand more than this.
and choose that kind of food most agree
able to the taste, without regard to its
cost or its deleterious effects upon the
body. Well cooked beef steak is very
delicious and not extremely unhealthful,
but no poor man can feed a family ON
this. on account of its cost nor can he
afford to fill half dozen hungry mouths
with what are called rich victuals. MANY
of the materials that help form pies.
cakes. buildings, and other articles seen
upon our tables, contain very little nour
lshment, but are trying to the stomach
and to the purse. So when we consult
health or expense, We must discard very
many Of the articles of food now used.
But there is often great waste in the
manner of cooking as well as preserving
food, and only the prudent. careful cook
or housewife who has thoroughly learned
her art, can perform her part we'll and
economically. If we are to try economy
In this branch of our living, great step
towards it would be to put ourselves up
on palmer fare, in which there is less
butter, grease, spice, sugar and preserv
ed fruit all of these articles cost, and
for the most part can be done away with.
1t Is of little use to try to contend
against the power of fashion, and so it
will be difficult to reduce the cost of
clothing. Very many pay far more for
that which adornS (as they think than
for that which protects and we'll clothes.
But there is no one who could not. if he
chose, greatly reduce his expenses. by
clothing himself and his family in mate
rails more suitable and comfortable. but
perhaps, less stylish. In the consump-
ton of fuel We are very extravagant, and
the time will soon come when necessity
will compel US to be more saving of it.
Open and cold rooms, poor stoves and
the loss of a great amount of heat, by
It's escape into chimneys, compel US to
burn far more wood than is necessary
worse than this is the practice of burn
ing green or partially seasoned wood. A
saving of one half the cost in our fuel
would be considerable, and would be
the heavy expenses in many families is
that of sickness this is not a luxury
and 1t comes unsought, but it is often
unnecessary. Exposure, carelessness. the
use OF lndigestible food, intemperance in
exercise eating Oh drinking, will produce
sickness and the great expenses attend
ing it. Now, to be ignorant of the SIM
pie laws of health, or to abuse ones self
knowingly, is both criminal and costly.
we need not say that the expensive hab-
1t OF using tobacco and rum are making
many poor. If individuals and families
made practice of keeping an account
OF their expenses, it would do much to.
ward reducing expenses. by showing to
them where and when they spent money
unnecessarily. We are not of that class
who believe that money is the only
thing worth seeking after, but believe
all ought to work and to save, that they
may have means to provide themselves
with all that will minister to their ne
cessity and real happiness, and a suffi.
elent means to do something for those
who are poorer and more unfortunate
than themselves, If by carefully look
ing over our expenses, we find that a
saving can be made without sacrifice it
Will be well if this subject is carefully
considaroJ