The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1884-12-04
SPENDING AS YOU GO.
Not Much Economy. But Lots OF
Comfort.

story about New York man who lived
in Hat. and out OF salary Of $1,000
year saved $3.50"
A newspaper economist was talking
with a young married man who has n
salary of $3.50 year aud never saves a
cent.
Then you don't believe n man can live
In city on that salary and save money!"
asked the economist.
EYES," answered the listener, ~ do.
That Is to say man can exist. There
is a good deal of lying done about this
problem Of living, or else am the most
extravagent man on earth, which | don't
believe. get $3.50 year, and don't
save a cent. On the contrary, | run In
debt. Now, suppose you come and take
dinner with me. And you go with me
to-day, so that the madame will have no
warning. In that way you shall see for
yourself our average mode Of life."
The economist and the young married
man of $3.50 went away together to the
home of the latter to o'clock dinner.
As they approached the house the man
of high salary said: "You notice that
tne lOCullOH vi tue lOMH III WHICH you
| are now walking Is decent and clean"
SO IL was. There was n breath of
cleanliness in the air that was like a
shower in n parched field. The houses
were neat and tidy.
"Is 1t worth anything to mans mind
and body to live in such a vicinity ?"
The question had but one answer.
The house was reached. The apart
ments where the $3.50 n year young
a. ia at. a a..r..
| rooms and was up one flight of stairs. Ii
was a rest In its appearance. There
was not picture too many or too
costly. IL was comfort. Every window
was n charming hook, and one could sit
at any one of them and enjoy life. One
of the bedrooms was cool, delightful,
and looked like n dell. 1t was festooned
with leaves, and geranium shaded the
window, and hanging basket of wood
land greens swSyed from the ceiling as
| If 1t was hanged down by an angel. The
| kitchen was MS pretty as any room in
the house. II was carpeted and adj
| Joined the back parlor. A bird cage
swung from the window of this, and the
yellow inmate danced and sang merrily
as his salaried master and companion
entered.
The dinner was all that man with
good digestion could desire; soups,
| full OF appetizing jelly. Then there were
some baked potatoes, stewed tomatoes,
corn. tea, bread and butter. 1t was but
ter, however, and simply delicious.
~ get my butter in the country" said
the man of Sl250. "By the time get II
delivered II costs me as much as it would
by the tirkin in wholesale house; but 1t
is butter when 1t gets here. The same
with my eggs. Is that worth any
thing?"
Then there were some tarts, and some
| fruit. and bottle of claret. 81 got that
| claret from friend who procures 1t nj
wholesale, 81 80 a gallon. Taste ii. 1t
is ms good as you or anybody can get for
more money. | drink one gallon week;
it is all the drinking do. 1 never take a
drink down town; never taste beer or
whisky. Isay, is there anything in that
to make q man repine? Any comfort in
that, my boy? OF course | could do with
out this wine; | could move on n back
street or live In n basement; | could have
my wife make slave of herself, SO that
she would be tired out, and peevish, and
fretful when | came home. Nice things
for man whose business cares harass
him, to come home and find cross, red
faced, peevish wife, amt 1t? Helps n
man to make living, doesn't II Makes
| him young again, and causes him to
sleep Welt BAH Have another glass;"
Then, after the dinner, he brought
out two pipes and some delicious smok-
ing tobacco.
II hardly ever smoke cigar. except
upon the street. OF course, / might give
you clay pipe and some chips to smoke.
| don't care to poison my nerves, so get
the purest and best tobacco. Anything
wrong in that? OF course 1t costs more"
The economist ventured to ask the
| G1DEn ~ hfa NVar1rnha
expensive item.
"No; not very. l wear pair of trous-
ers, patched, to my office. | have what
common people call Sunday suit. for
we go out now and then to visit, or to n
concert, or to the theater. My clothes
linen and underwear-go to the laundry.
My wife makes her own dresses and
other wear, except two dresses, which
she always has for evening, made by the
modiste. They are trimmed over and
cut down, or fixed up so that they can
do service for year at least. She has
woman who comes to the house to do
her washing. She does her own ironing.
Is there anything in my wife that is ex-
travagant?"
The economist was silent.
"You can come to my house any day
in the week and find us good dinner as
you get there to-day. We don't gorge
| Ollt uul anu iut HtAl. Hut may
be good way for animals to live. None
Of II for me-"
"What are your expenses ?"
~ don't know. | don't care what
they are so long as my wife's cheeks are
red. so long as her eyes sparkle, so long
as my boy enjoys his youth, SO long as
do not feel the prodding of time and
his Gliding voice. Don't do it-you are
getting old. Take care of YOURSELF
say bah! on such an idea OF life as
that"
And when he said this his wife put
her arms about his neck and kissed him.
And the economist went away, marvel
ing much at what he had seen and
heard.
The Very Latest Discovery.
We visited the San Antonio Eve and
Ear lnfirmary this morning, and Dr.
Burnham showed us new drug that has
| tho most unnIarfnl afraota A Fau d,,,,