The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1884-01-03
WHAT IT COSTS TO LIVE.
The Number OF Dollars One Eat mp
Fifty Years.

EAty Ac2LAs
Mr.. Soyer, who in his lifetime gained
so much fame as q cook and food econo-
mist, made q calculation as to how much
of the finer wines and meats were con-
sumed by professed bon-vivant In the
course of his lifetime. This curious feat
of calculation is based on a lifetime ex-
tending over sixty years; the life of a
bon-YiYant is estimated as enduring for
three score years and ten; but-though
he might have extended the number
the first ten years are not taken into ac-
count, as during that period the boy is
not allowed to consume anything but
what is placed before HIM. Taking the
round figures of the Accumulated "ser-
vices Of meat and drink, it appears, by
Mr.. Soyer's calculation, that professor
Of good living Val consume in the sixty
years allotted to him, about sixty tons
of viands, which he probably washes
down with a hundred hogsheads of wines
and liquors of various kinds. The fol-
lowing are the materials which, accord
ing to Soyer, composes the daily dinner
of the average epicure half a
pint of soup, four ounces of fish, eight
ounces of meat, four ounces of poultry,
four ounces of savory meats, two ounces
of vegetables, two ounces of bread, two
ounces of pastry, half an ounce of cheese,
four ounces of fruit, one pint of wine,
one glass of liquor, one cup of coffee or
tea. The solids, it will be seen, which
are consumed at this meal amount to
thirty and half ounces; whilst at lunch
con time, eight ounces would be con-
sumed; and calculating the eggs, fish, or
outlets eaten at breakfast, an additional
twelve ounces would fall to be added to
the account, equivalent to forty-eight
ounces of solid food per diem; and there
Would be at least three pints of liquid
material in coffee, soup, wine, and
liquors. At present prices, the eating
and drinking Of q professed good liver
could not be accomplished for less than
twelves shillings sterling ($3. OO) per diem,
including wines and liquors. That may
seem large sum; but the money which
is necessarily expended in cooking such
q dinner as an epicure would order is
considerable, and necessarily fails to be
included in the bill of costs; while if
high-class wines be selected, twelve
shillings will hardly cover the expendi-
ture. Twelve shillings a day for a per-
iod of three hundred and sixty-five days
amount to two hundred and nineteen
pounds (S1, ,096;) and In sixty years at
that rate, the good hver's commissariat
account will sum up to the very hand
some sum of thirteen thousand one hun
dred and forty pounds sterling $780,
700.)
A healthy and hungry eater of the
upper middle class, able to afford good
dinner, will In the course of his lifetime
consume thirty fat oxen, two hundred
sheep, as many lambs, hundred calves,
fifty pigs, twelve hundred barn-door
fowls, three hundred turkeys, four hun
dred ducklings, and as much game as
he can afford to purchase; his consump-
ton of fish, fruits, and vegetables Will
be in proportion, say sixty salmon, a
hundred and fifty Goldfish, two hundred
soles, and many hundreds of the minor
fishes, not to speak of a few hundred
Holsters and many thousand oysters.
Taking, then, the food expenditure of
the professional and higher mercantile
cannot compute it at less, in
cluding wines, spirits beer, than eight
shillings (S2. 00) per diem, which, when
fruits and choice vintages are
taken into account, Is moderate enough
especially if the occasional din
ner and supper parties given in the
course OF Jne year De 1ncludeQ. A
years dinner and food expenditure at the
rate just mentioned would sum up to one
hundred and forty-six pounds ($730);
and taking a similar rate for period of
fifty years, it represents a total amount
If seven thousand three hundred pounds |
1886, 5OO). Presuming that, if he pleased, !
he professional or mercantile man of the |
,lass indicated might easily so restrict |
MS expenditure as to admit of saving |
If two thousand pounds (s10, ,00O on his
ife's ford account, the total gain would
% positively enormous. IF there are,
ay, million of such persons-and for
Illustrative purposes we may assume
here are million-the sum gained
would be represented by no less a sum
han two thousand million pounds (S10,-
90, 900, 000)l Such figures must of course
e set down as utOpian, because men as
rule have become such slaves to their
ppetites, that it would be hopeless to
tempt to wean them from what they
ave grown to consider a necessary of
leir lives; but the fact remains notwith-
landing that eve all eat and drink too
Iueh. - Chambers Journal.