The sun., 1881-10-30
Can He Live on Ten Dollars n Week

| o.ore him if he means to make his Govern
ment profitable and successful business.
Can He Live on Ten Dollars n Week ?
The cost OF living Is undoubtedly greater
now than it was n year ago. Last autumn
nearly all the necessaries of life were cheaper
than they are to-day, or are likely to be
during the coming winter. Then we had
gathered a harvest unparalleled for its.abun-
Dance whereas now wo must content our
selves with deficient crops. Drought at the
East and South and drought and then floods
at the West, have cost the country dearly.
and every consumer must bear his share OF
the loss. or course the extra expense to
which they are put will be felt most severely
by the poor; by the people whose incomes
barely suffice for their support.
Under such circumstances, we are asked to
give our advice to young man who is in
trouble as to how he shall live on small
salary. This is the way in which he ex-
plains his case:
"siR My trouble Is how am going to support myself
and mother dollars week am thirty years Of
age. and am salesman in wholesale house. My EN-
ploycrs noted the meanest in the city. They
pcct their men to work for nothing and board them
selves Now old reader of TnE sun. | want to
Know where can live the cheapest IN or out Oi tie city
"NEw loRK, Oct 81. "lANp TO MourH."
Ten dollars n week is small sum to sup
port two people on in New York, especially
at this time OF increased prices. There are
many men who expcnd as much as that
weekly in cigars alone. and the unnecessary
and even hurtful drinks Of very many more
cost at least that. Yet there are thousands
of the inhabitants of this city, fathers of
families, too, whose incomes are no greater,
even if they are as large; and besides, a
large share of them cannot rely on getting
the money with the same regularity with
which our correspondents salary is paid
Two or three rooms can be hired in town for
from eight to nine dollars u month, or less.
Then, il our correspondent is the man OF in
telligence his letter seems to show him to
be, by wise purchases at the markets of the
odds and ends OF meat and the necessary
vegetables he can make n little money go
very far. Enough to keep himself and mother
supplied with nutritious food can be obtained
even this autumn ut n very small cost.
few years ago man of cultivation,
whose income was not larger than his, and
who had had long experience in European
economies tried the experiment OF support
ing himself and wife on little money in New
York. His report was that by skiful pur-
veying and cookery he had succeeded in
getting along very comfortably. He found
that he could live here for less than in any
great European city. But his wife knew
how to make the most of everything, and he
understood how to select materials for her
which could be SO cooked as to be both
palatablc and nutritious, though their cost
was small.
flour correspondent and his mother make
n study of the art of the most economical
living, and learn how to put every article OF
food he buys to the best use, they too will
find that even only ten dollars = week goes
a long way toward providing the comforts
OF life; that. indeed, though he may have to
live from hand to mouth" the money will
be enough to keep want from his door, and
to provide sufficient food for health.
Situated as he is, obliged to be in town
early at his business, perhaps it would be
better for him to find quarters in town, il
possible, where he can walk to and fro, and
so save car faro. Even il the Communication
on the railroads to the suburbs is small, it
is likely to be too much for him to pay He
might, however, find plcasantcr quarters at
small price in Brooklyn or Jersey City.
Yes, even ten dollars a week, If it is all
expended for actual needs and for comforts
necessary to make life cndurablc. can sup
port two people in New York far better than
our correspondent supposes. 1t is true very
many Of those here whose incomes are as
small as that dwell in slualor, and suffer
from hunger and cold. But why is it?
Because the money they need for food and
fire they spend in drink. and because they do
not understand how to make the most OF
the materials at their hands. Many OF
them. too. 1t must be remembered, have
large families, whereas our friend has only
himself and mother to support
Yet for n salesman in wholesale house he
certainly gets u very small salary. He
must not forget, however, that the market
is overloaded with clerks. That is the case
at all times, when trade is active aud pos
porous and when trade is dull. Probably
any merchant who tomorrow advertised
for q clerk at even his salary would get
scores OF applicants for tho place, though
the volume of business is now so large
At thirty, however, a man OF his apparent
intelligence ought to be earning more
money. II he has acquired special skill at
the business he is in, and Is worthy of conf
dence, and capable OF bearing responsibility,
he ought to have higher wages than those
OF u common laborer.