Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-24
THE OLD AND NEW.
London, Paris and st. Petersburg as
Compared with New TOrk-Amer.
ica's Metropolis an Expensive City.

London, Paris and St Petersburg as
Compared with New YOPk-Amer.
ica's Metropolis an Expensive City.
1t may be difficult for the cosmopolitan trav-
eler, writes George Augustus Sala In the North
american review, when he surveys the height
and refined New York, to avoid a comparison
between the empire city OF the United States
ana the capital OF the Russian empire. Between
ana 81 r. there
cities are the paradise Of foreign singers and
musicians, cooks, cOnfectiOners florists caterers
and dancing-masters The cost of elegant life
IN Petropolts is on parity with that In Man.
haitian In both cities the monetary unity rep
resents larger value than it does in the older
centres of civilization. In England, that unity
is substantially not the pound but the shilling
sterling. In Paris tits the franc. Thus London
is on the whole, dearer city than Paris by
twenty live centimes over and above the franc
We send pound to London charity or pay
pound day for our parlor at London hotel.
To the same purposes in Paris we devote 20
francs. 1t might be argued that in New York
the same theory OF expenditure would be repre-
sented by a s. piece: but the American none
tary unity is not five dollars but one dollar;
and to thousands intents and purposes, the
does not exceed that of the Partisan franc or the
London Shilling. in ST. Petersburg
THE UNITY Is THE RUBLE,
which should be worth Is cents buC which may
did ever hazard any, would confidently wager
that living in quiet and undemonStrative COM
fort in New York. INDUCING inauO excess, either
In the 81 stately rare
only when l absolutely needed one, I should
spend every day nearly twice as much as /
should spend in London or Paris and only about
one-third more than l should spend in st.
Petersburg. This question of the relative costli-
ness OF life In great capitals is assuredly very
important one, although it is often contemptu-
OuSly neglected as unworthy the attention of
serious eSsaylSts on political economy. But, as
Mr.. Carlyle pointed out long ago, mankind Is
very prone to dismiss as trivial and un1mportant
subjects which are really of immediate and
lasting concern to us all. Take the passion of
sleep, for example Once, at least in the course of
every "a hours on an average, humanity is bound
tain that position for many hours, quite uncon-
sc1ouS OF business, pleasure, peace or war. and
ats head full Of the foolishest of thoughts"
General and continuous insomnia for fort
night would make an end Of humanity alto
gether; yet we trouble ourselves very little
about the psychology OF sleep; and the meta
physician has great deal more to say about the
soul, OF which he can know absolutely nothing,
than about sleep, and especially about dreams,
concerning which he must have, every night In
his life, practical and curious experience. So
is 1t In measure as respects the cost OF our eat
ing ana drinking; and know no more intricate
problem than that of the excessive
ExPENsIvENESs OF NEW YORK,
as compared with that OF other great cities.
We know why food, with the single exception
OF bread, is dear in London. The trade in meat,
mainly in the hands OF wealthy and powerful
monopoltsts; we are Ill supplied with markets;
almost every article OF food which we consume
passes through the hands of and yields profit
to three or four middlemen before it's reaches
our mouths. Is this the case to greater OF to
a lesser extent In New York? / should say,
under correction, that 1t is not the caSe that IS,
If l am to place any faith in the published price
lists of the markets from day to day. Those
lists tell me that meat, fish, poultry, game,
fruit, vegetables and dairy produce are at least
80 per cent. cheaper in New York than in Lon
don; yet the retail prices of such articles which
the guest at first-claSs hotel or restaurant in
per cent. above the charges which would be
made for similar articles In analogous establish
mentS in London. At our most fashionable
watering places, for example, Brighton and
Scarborough, f1rst-class board can be obtained
at from S. to 1882 TO S2.50-a day; but if my
American guide books and my Dictionary Of
here represent only board of decidedly second
class Character.