National Republican., 1884-11-05
SPENDING AS YOU GO.


Picture OF n Young Married Couple
Who Lived In n French Flat-Not
Much Economy, Hut Lots OF Com
fort.
Chicago Herald
"Thst was very thickly-studded story
about New York man who lived in
fat, and out Of q salary of S., 900 a year
saved $780,"
A newspaper economist was talking
with . young married man who has n
salary Of l,250 year aud never saves
cent.
Then you don't believe man can live
in city on that salary and save money!"
asked the economist.
Yes" answered the listener, II do,
That 10 to say, q man can exist. There is
q good deal Of lying done about this
problem OF living, OF else am tho most
extravagsnt man on earth. which | don't
believe. 1 get $3.50 q year, and don't
save cent. On the contrary, run in
debt. Now, suppose you come and take
dinner with me. Aud you go with me
to-day, so that the madame will have no
yourself our average mode of life"
The economist aud tho young married
man Of $3.50 went away together to the
home of the latter to o'clock dinner.
As they approached the house tho man of
high salary said: you notice that the
portion OF tho town In which you are now
walking is decent and clean"
So IL WAS. There was breath OF
cleanliness in tho air that was like a
shower on psrched field. The houses
were noat and tiday.
'Is IL worth anything TO mans mind
and body to live In such vicinityp
The question had bug one answer. The
house was reached. The apartments
whore tho Sl,250 year young man lived
was . fiat. 1t contained lvo rooms aud
was up ono flight Of stairs. 1t was rest
in its appearance. There was not a
picture too many or too costly. II was
comfort. Every window was charming
nook, and ono could sit at any one Of
them and enjoy life. One Of tho bedrooms
was cool, delightful, and looked like a
dell. 1t was festooned with leaves. and
goranium shaded the window, and
hanging basket Of woodland green's
swayed from the ceiling as II IL was
hanged down by an angel. The kitchen
was as pretty as any room in the house.
1t was csrpeted 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
master and companion entered.
The dinner WAS all that a man with a
good digestion could desire; soups, small
leg Of mutton served with spoonful of
appetizing jelly. Then there were some
baked potatoes, stewed tomatoes, corn,
--l hos IA
however, and simply delicious.
II get my butter in tho country" said
the man of 81 ,250 by the time get it
delivered it costs me as much as it would
by the frkin in o wholesale house; but 1t
is butter whom it gets here. The same
with my eggs. Is that worth anythingp
Then there were some tarts, and some
fruit, and bottle of claret. ~ got that
clsret from friend who procures it at
Wholesale, $1.50 gallon. Taste it. It is
as good rs you or anybody can got for
moro money. drink one gallon week;
il ia oil the drinking do. l never take
sdrink downtown; never taste beer or
whisky. Isay, is there anything in that
TO make man repine? Any comfort in
that, my boy2 OF courseI could do with
out this wine; could move on back
street or live in basement; Icould have
my wife make slave of herself. so that
she would be tired out, and peevish, and
frotful when I came homo. Nice things
for Q man whose business cares harass
him. to como home and find cross, red
faced, peovish wife, aint 1t? Helps man
TO make living, doesn't it? Makes him
young again, and causes him to sleep
we'll! Bah! Have another glass?"
Then, after the dinner, he brought out
two pipes and some delicious smoking to-
bscco.
n hardly ever smoke cigar, except
upon tho street. or course, might give
you clay pipe and some chips to smoke.
don't care TO poison my nerves, 30 get
the purest and best tobacco. Anything
wrong in that? or course 1t costs more"
The economist ventured to ask the
81, $50 man If his wardrobe was not an
expensive item.
"No; not very. I wear q pair Of
trousers, patched, to my office. / have
what common people call Sunday suit,
for we 60 out now and then to visit, or to
linen and underwear-go to the laundry.
Ny wife makes her own dresses and other
wear, except Two dresses, which she al
ways 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 q
woman who comes to the house to do her
washing. She does her own ironing. ID
there anything in my wife that ID ex-
trsvngant?"
The economist was silent.
"You can come to my house any day in
tho week and find as good dinner 90 you
get there to-day. We don't gorge one day
and stsrvo tho next. That may be good
way for animals to live. None of It for
me-"
What arc your expenses?"
II don't know. don't care what they
arc so long as my wife's cheeks are red, 90
long - her eyes sparkle, so long ~ my
boy enjoys his youth, so long as do not
feel tho prodding Of time and his chiding
voice. Don't do it-you are getting old.
Take caro- of yourself l say bah on
such an idea Of life a. that"
And when he said this his wife put hor
arms about his neck and kissed him. And
the economist went away. marveling
much at what he had seen and heard.
Impromptu Definitions.