Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-29
THE HOUSEHOLD.
I1v1Sc At A SMALL COST


WAY Eesnsms IN sseus-hs'ss Can onis BE-
rss~ncea b. she Assistance Of a rheuah'-
w lchicsgo Newsl
at takes ell I make to support my
ismily," dolefnlly remarked hard
working carpenter. with four little
ones" he continued, "and . wife, my
o2.25 Q day doesn't 60 great way
There il 10 much for rent, so much Tor
ths table, then shoes and clothing for
the children, and, with something Tor
wife and myself, At the end Of the week
We have nothing"
al get tS5 q week." said stained
glass artist, Sand have four children.
Il costs me ESQ month for rent, and
Il takes t2O q week to set our table.
We live well, but save nothing"
The speaker was an American, who
dressed well, smoked good cigars, and
occasionally took his family to the the
Atre.
81 earn s12 week." said cane
chair maker. who was German. II
have four children" said he, and
wife TO care for, and it costs me s6 a
week to set our table. Since marrying,
about FIVE years ago, | have bought and
almost paid for house and lot on
North avenue, so now pay no house
rent. The property is worth sl,50O.
My other expenses will not exceed " a
vcek On An average. and every Saturday
night manage to put by Is for rainy
dsy. We have lots TO eat, and my
children have never been sick day."
For the purpose of getting at the
facts regarding the cost Of living in
Chicago Daily Ners, reporter yes
terday talked with q number OF arti-
sans whose labor brought them from
tl0 to t35 . week, according to their
skill or the desirability Of their work.
The noteworthy fact that it is not the
amount earned so much as the amount
saved that brings independence was de-
veloped in the first interview. When
the secret Of saving was asked for the
answer was: alt all depends on the
wife you've got"
"Now," said the speaker, who was
q timer, ~ earn S2.15 a day, and
out of that have to support my wife
and two children. I live on Larrabee
street. pay sl0. a month for house
rent and exactly $3.50 week for the
grocer's and butchers bills. 1t costs
exactly sl.25 q week for our clothing,
which includes bedding and towels.
Last year laid by s5 every week, and
at the end of the year was exactly
eco ahead"
The speaker thought q man could |
live well on sl2 a week and support
at least one child and wife, provided |
the latter was economical.
But" said he, if you amt got |
the right kind of wife the arrange
ment won't work. have been mar
ried twice. My first wife was too |
Young, and didn't know the value Of a
dollar; so / left her. | courted my
second wife three years, and you can
bet / knew her well before | married
her. She proved to be just the kind
Of q woman needed, and we get along |
all right and are as happy as we can
be. We have all we want to eat; in
fact, never stint myself, though, of |
course, manage as closely as possible. |
/ intend to 90 into business myself
some day that's why ! am so saving"
"You can't get along unless you
have a good wife, said the next
speaker, who was gss-fitter. 81 have
nine children, +" said he, Z" and brother
in-law living with me, and earn $3.50 a
day. 1t takes about els week to set
our table, but / own my own house, so
that not having to pay rent am able
TO save little"
This man said that shortly after the
great fire he purchased an eight-room
house on Fifth avenue near Twenty
ninth street, and that out Of his wages
he paid for the property and maintained
his family in good style. ave have
oil We want to eat" said he, "and
there has been no sickness among MS.
Every Saturday night give my wife
my wages, and she spends the money.
During the week | get dollar or so,
but ! am lucky if she gives me more.
We are saving people, but you've got
to be saving these times if you expect
to get ahead"
"A man ought to be able, said car
penter earning 90 day, Ito set his
table for at least three children, himself
and his wife for sS week. The other
household expenses, not counting on
sickness, should not exceed 90 more
every week, so that man earning SIS
q week could easily save IS or O. oft.
In that way he could use his first years
savings as purchase money for house
and lot, and make monthly payments
till the Indebtedness was discharged"
Again the virtues of the "good
wife }" were sounded. "You must have
q good wife. though, if you expect to
save anything" said he. Women
are so funny. Some OF them think that
if they save anything they are doing it
for some one else, so if they want
: thing they buy it, whether or not it
does them any good"
"Saye nothing !" exclaimed a brick
layer, who earns s4.50 day eight
months in the year, and has TO support
eleven children, his wife, her mother,
and himself. II have nothing left at
the end Of the building season." he de-
clared, "and in the winter | work in
the packing-houses. Drink? OF course
do; | take glass OF beer now and
then, and treat the boys once in a
while but am economical enough for
all that"
- never drink at ALL" said the
foreman Of q carpenter-shop, who earns
els . week and has wife and three
children. He continued 81 have
been married four years and have three
children. 1t costs me about sl0a week
to live. This first year after was
married l bough. house at haywood
worth sl,s00, and since then have
almost paid for it. Our grocer's bill
amounts to about as a week, and for
meat and milk we spend 81 more. II
costs US about ~ q week for clothing,
We never spend . cent for anything
foolish, and I'll bet you there is not Q
q - IL A.