The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-11-12

After due reflection and consultl-
ton | have come to the conclusion
that respectable housekeeping in
upper Locust street. in Philadel-
phia, is fully one-third cheaper than
the same in corresponding locali-
tv in London, or in any English
city. AS regards just and liberal
fees to servants, there is not cents
difference between the two coun-
tries. Those who give more in Eng
land than they do at home, do SO
from ignorance. 1 was once told by
an American that no man could
travel in Europe ''like gentleman"
on less than $50 a day. | do not
think that he who asserted it could
have done it on 5000 or any other
sum, since no money would have
made a gentleman " of him.
The result of all experience III
these matters is, that in towns or
countries where one can live cheap
ly. there is always something that
one misses. 1t is cheap living in
Florence, but one has not there the
clubs, the society, the life of London
or Paris. OF course there are places
which form exceptions. Pesth and
Madrid are extravagantly dear-for
strangers-and they do not get their
moneys worth in any form, since
life in them becomes intolerably
wearisome to any after a month.
Expenses are disproportionate, too,
in certain towns. A single man
who belongs to good club, and can
be contented with two modest rooms
can live in London for much less
than in Paris, and perhaps as cheap
ly as in any American city. But a
family of two or more must spend a
great deal more for every one, either
10 lodging or housekeeping. 1t
must be admitted that wherever
stvle enters into the calculation, pri
ces are much dearer in America.
Thus one must pay 40 cents for
beefsteak in any first or even a sec
ond-class restaurantin in Philadelphia.
In London, at the Criterion, or Hol-
born, or Crystal Palace, or South
Kensington, we get the same or bet
ter for a shilling in far more ele-
CANT establishment than any which
the Quaker City can boast. But the
fact that the beef in all probability
came from America, proves OF itself
that if we in America tuy our meat
and cook it ourselves, we can get it
cheaper than in London.
A few London hotels are very dear,
such, for instance, as the elite of the
private hotels about Piccadilly. In
these, which are small, everything is
scrupulously neat, and intensely
English. There are no public draw
ing-rooms or parlors, but all guests
are expected to take private ones, or
whole suites. The attendance is of
the best-that is to say, the walters
and maids are more like perfect au
tomata than anything which disci-
pline has ever produced in humani-
ty. The landlord or landlady is the
INVISIBLE handspring of the whole.
One may live for months in the
house, and not be aware of their ex-
istence. These places are, in fact,
a sublime form of the lodging
house-there is almost nothing
about them which suggests to an
American his idea of a hotel. There
is often no billiard or eveu a smok-
ing room, no table d'hote. In these
during the season the aristocracy,
pursang, can conceal themselves in
perfect seclusion from all save those
whom they wish to see. Many or
most of these are kept by ex buffers,
who have been for years in the SER
vice of the nobility, and have,
while there, married ladies' maids.
Thus they are perfectly qualified
for their clientele. Life in these
places is perfectly comfortable, in
absolutely good form, but, unless
one has many friends, intolerably
dull Cor. Of Chicago Tribune.