Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-10-14

pTO&Cu6d bl0 HOUSE bIl0 II1dil 0l U1Sl SttlsA
said: t'You notice that the portion of town
in which you are now walking is decent and
clean"
So it was There was a breath of cleanli-
ness in the air that was like shower on q
parched field. The houses were neat and
tidy.
fsIs it worth anything to a mans mind and
body to live in such a vicinity!"
The question had but one answer The
house was reached. The apartment where
the 81 $50 year young man lived was flat.
1t contained five rooms and was up Cne flight
of stairs 1t was nest in its appearance.
There was not picture too many or too cost
ly It was comfort. Every window was q
charming nook, and one could sit at any one
of them AID enjoy life. One of the bed
rooms was cool, delightful and looked like q
dell It was festooned with leaves and ge-
ranium shaded the window, and hanging
basket of woodland green's swayed from the
ceiling as if it was handed down by an an
gel The kitchen was as pretty as any room
in the house. 1t was carpeted and adjoined
the back parlor. A bird cage swung from
the window of this and the yellow inmate
danced and sang merrily as his salaried mas
ter and companion entered. There was 8
coal oil stove on a table put up for it.
@t'E don't burn coal in the summer" said
the 81 250 man. Tt is expensive, dirty and
heats the house Cleanliness is my motto
Upon that hangs a mans chances to grow
gray and then baldheaded. That's worth
something, isn't it!"
The economist had to admit that such was
the case.
Chow do you like the appearance of the
fiat? No fattery, for this is a common-s sense
visit and one for study"
There could be but one opinion as to the
appearance of the fat no matter what the
object of the visit was, and that opinion was
honestly given.
"I suppose you think that the man who
owns the building lets me occupy this fat for
nothing?"
The economist would by no rule known to
man arrive at any such conclusion.
''I suppose you think I get this for the
same that one would pay for shanty on q
back street?"
There was no way of arriving at that con
clusion either.
E'I pay thirty dollars for it. Cheap enough.
That thirty dollars is not for the bare rooms,
my friend 1t is for health, for respectable
ty, for deeency. My wife and boy can &C
out for stroll of an evening or morning
anywhere in this part of the city without be-
ing knocked down or catching some disease
caused by filth They can sit in any win
dow in the house and have a very pretty
view Are these things worth paying fof.'
The economist was silent.
"Come in and let's have something to eat
The table was prettily spread. There were
few plates and few dishes. There was rose
and an evergreen of some sort in goblet on
the table. The little housewife was her own
housekeeper, and consequently her own cook.
She brought in the work of her own hands
and culinary taste.
'sThis is a rump roast said the master of
the house. 'EIt makes the best roast you can
buy if if is tender, and if you buy at one
place you can always get it so. How much
J<,eI L SC, or1p
dollar for it. 1t is trifle larger than we
generally get,'' said the little wife; ''but we
will have a stew out of the remaining por-
ton of it tomorrow, she continued.
There were some baked potatoes, stewed
tomatoes, corn, tea, stale bread and butter.
It was butter, however, and simply delicious.
It made the economist feel as if ho would
like to kiss the cow that gave the milk that
was churned by the maid that sent the result
to market. ''I get my butter in the coun-
try" said the man of 81 $50 'EBy the time
1 get it delivered it costs me as much as ii
would by the firkin on South Voter street.
But it is butter when it gets here. The same
with my eggs. Is that worth anything"
Then there were some tarts and some fruit
and a bottle of claret. 'fI get that claret
from a friend who procures it at wholesale,
81 so gallon. Taste it, It is as good as
you or anybody can get in Chicago for more
money I drink one gallon week. 1t is all
the drinking [ do. l never take drink
down town. l never taste beer or whiskey.
say is there anything in that to make man
repine2 Any comfort in that, my boy? Of
course I could do without this wine. 1 could
move out of this neighborhood on a back
street or live in basement. I could put a
cook-stove up in summer and have my wife
make cook of herself that she would be
tired out and peevish and fretfu when l
came home. Nice thing for a man whose
l,
find a cross, red-faced, peevish wife, amt it?
Helps man to make living, doesn't it:
Makes him young and causes him to sleep
we'll! Bah. Have another glass"
Then after the dinner he brought out two
pipes and some delicious smoking tobacco.
1 hardly ever smoke a cigar except upon
the street. Of course 1 might give you a
clay pipe and some chips to smoke. 1 don't
care to poison my nerves, SO [ get the purest
and best tobacco. Anything wrong in that!
Of course it costs more"
Then he told his boy to take fifty cents
and 60 out on the lake. This did not often
occur, but it was worth the money occasion
ally for health. Then he went over to a
drug store and ordered hanson. ~ am
going to take my wife out for drive" he
said FtOf course I might leave her in the
house. And of course l will have to pay for
this hanson; l don't own it. When we
come back from our drive we will feel like
having sweet sleep. I have no cheap food
in my stomach upon which to fatten night
mare"
The economist ventured to ask the 81 $50
man if his wardrobe was an expensive item.
'FNo; not very. I have pair of panta-
looms, patched, at my Office. 1 have what
common people call Sunday suit, for we go
out now and then to visit, or to u concert or
to the theatre. My clothes-linen and un-
derwear go to the laundry My wife makes
I A1o., caV,ff f1x,f
dresses which she always has for evening,
made by the modiste. They are trimmed
over and cut down or fixed up so that they
do service for q year at least. She has wo-
man who comes to the house to do her wash.
She does her own ironing. Is there anything
in my life that is extravaganza"
The economist was still silent.
"You can come to my house any day in
the week and find as good dinner as you
got there to-day. We don't gorge one day
and starve the next like that New York
chap. That may be good way for ami
mails to live. None of it for NEE"
I'What are your expenses"
F'I don't know. I 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 l do not
feel the prodding of time and his chiding-
voice Don't do it-you are getting old.
Take care of yourself L say bah! on such
an idea of life as that"
sFBl,t suppose you were taken sick and
your wife should have to depend on
triends?'
'EI am a man who attends to his bust
ness Ny employer does not concern him
self half as much about his business as l
10. l work for him faithfully and consci-
,ntiously, and he knows it. Ny neighbors
know it, They know I do not gamble or
yet drunk or neglect my business or my
family. Do you suppose that am such a
,ynic as to believe that a man who does
his duty in this way will suffer. No. sir. -
sEYou have great faith," said the econo-
mist. who had been showed from the tops
If several buildings and kicked down the
stairway of adversely.
eyes, sir, have. 1 tell you that sue
less in life depends upon faith. And faith
consists in doing your duty"
ffBut when you grow old and come to
liep
'I have nothing to do with that. I am
put here and I employ my talents to the
best advantage. When my last days work is
over, and the last night shall come to me, as it
will, my boy, to all of us, am not afraid but
the man who put me here to work will see that
have a place in which to lie down"
And as he said this his wife put her arms
about his neck and kissed him. And the econ
o1nist went away marveling much at what he
bad seen and heard.