Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-07-20
GENTEEL STARVATION.
How Many Families StarVe and
Keep a Carriage.

NhOW nAoHy EAAAAAtCS otuNhO Ouui
Keep a Carriage.
A New York paper it is which
states that the other morning, when
its reporter went into the butcher
shop on Third avenue, Immediately
around the corner from his boarding
house, to deliver a pathetic message
from his landlady, he met a splendidly
costumed female coming out as he was
going in. Turning around naturally
to follow her movements, and still
further to feast his eyes, he saw her
step into a carriage at the curbstone,
which was speedily whisked away by
IA pair of spirited and praacing
horses.
The we'll groomed horses. with their
shining harness; the black tilted,
green coated, silver buttoned and
white gloved coachman; the highly
polished carriage, with its cleaning
lamps and windows; the whole equi-
page, in truth, flashing in the morning
sunlight, seemed like a splendid
visioa from the world of dreams.
When it had sparkled and shimmered
out of sight, and was lost in the COM
mon crowd of vehicles, the reporter
turned again into the butcher shop.
As he did so, the butcher brought a
hunk of meat from one of the hooks
aud flung it on the great round block
at the end of his counter. Selling a
pair Of meat axes, be began hacking
away to make minee meat thereof in
an Enthusiastically spiteful and vicious
fashion.
That is what 1 call gorgeous pow
erty," looking up and nOdding to the
reporter.
The butcher, it may be remarked, is
an old school fellow, who had the
usual presidential longings during his
early years, but developing coDsump-
tive tendencies, had sought a correct.
i've 10 his fathers business. He had
succeeded to the store at his father
death. He had found the corrective,
His weight is no less than 200 pounds
See" he said, turning suddenly
and pointing Electrically to three small
mutton chops and a modest aud retir.
ing piece of corned beef on the counter
before him, THAT is what Mrs. Mag
nilOquent Montrose has just pur.
chased.
Il should not be so indignant" he
continued, laughing suddenly, ii
these people weuld take their pur
chases with them. They always wan
them sent home. Now, this corneC
beef and these mutton chops viii
make two parcels, which my boy coulC
almoss put into his vest pockets. II,
takes them to a magnificent fou
stored brown stone mansion on Mad
isOn avenue. The mutton chops ar,
for the family dinner; the corned bee
is for the servants. There is % cents
worth. She paid the % cents out o
of a beautiful sealskin pocketbook
lined with blue silk. When she ha,
paid me | think she had % cents lef
in IT,"
Then she pays cash" suggested tn
reporter.
Because | WON'T give her credit
Her husband is a cashier in a larg
bank down town. l suppose that h
has a handsome salary. But his bi
house, his extensively dressed vii
and daughter, his carriage and splendi
coachman, his family's trip to Europ
or Saratoga in the summer time al
serbs everything. lie has little Of n
money to invest in bread and meat. ]
| should let my bill run up the none
would 20 for bonnets, gloves, boot
and other full dress paraphernalii
Then when Magniloquent Montros
absconds as he probably will, why
would be two or three hundred dollar
out Of pocket"
occasionally the Montroses give
dinner party, after living at otbt
peoples dinner parties for two or thre
months, and starving g~enteelly in tn
intervals. Then | sell them a nice Il
OF meat, and sm very careful to e
my money for it"
: "0h, yes, it is about the same thin
with the other tradesmen; Mrs. Mon.
rose dashes up to the corner grocer
, store in her carriage, and orders
} small measure OF potatoes and a bar
, soap to be sent home, and grand,
rides away again. You may see h,
: servant on the avenue almost al
morning on her way to the baker
: shop to buy and pay for one loaf
bread.
"0f course, the servants do not lik
) this sort of thing. They usually sta
a month, get their months wages an
! 60, If the servant can't stand it
: month and leaves before the end OF
. she does not get any wages"
A middle aged female entered Il
shop at this moment. She was dresst
= in shabby black. She carried a sma
: market basket. She began inspector
> very earnestly a round OF beef that Ii
on the counter,
1T is not quiet far enough in" 81
said at length, but you may cut
pretty thick slice Of there"
The butcher cut of the sic
wrapped it up and gave it 10 the Gu
toner, who went away.
You trust herr"
+ That's Miss Smith a very diifere.
e kind from Mrs. Montrose. She &c
the very best porter house steak 10 Il
shop. She waits until the out is 10
right. If it is not far enough in,
yerges towards the s~irloin, she wor
have it. And she pays promptly eve