Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1888-04-25
1t CAN BE DONE.
How Families Can be Supported on a
Small Sum.
From the Boston Journal

Small Sum.
From the Boston Journal.
The possibility of the support of
man with wife and two children upon
$3.50 per week has met with much ques-
tioning since the statement was made
that the problem had been solved, but
an interesting experiment in New York
has demonstrated the utmost achieve
ment of economy within the prescribed
limit. For family Of four the rent was
ST per week, fuel so cents and lighting
II cents. The food expenses were
compressed to $2.4S per week by the
most careful management. A bill of
fare contained two stews for four square
meals, each made of 10 cents worth of
meat and bones. handful of rice and
flour worth cent, and little salt and
pepper. Each stew eaten with bread
served for the next meal in a warmed
over condition. Four more of the prin-
cipal meals were provided from fried
beans furnished two meals for III
cents; pot roast of beef, three pounds
for 36 cents, and cents worth of pota-
toes made a royal Sunday dinner.
Bread and molasses formed the lunch
con in the middle of the day at the cost
of 35 cents, making the total ex-
pense for food for the week $2.48.
Comfortable clothing was provided at
$3.50 per week, and it is said that even
with the addition Of few luxuries of
food the family were able to &C.
post $7S in the savings bank during
the year. Whether the story adequate
some living may be perhaps questioned,
since nothing is provided to meet the
"wear and tear" in every household. but
it is useful as an illustration of econo
my. Scientists have decided that the
average workingman requires daily in
his food not less than four ounces of
proteids, two ounces of fat and eighteen
ounces of carbohydrates. Bread, oat-
meal, milk, sugar, potatoes, beans and
lard at cost OF 12& cents will supply all
the food absolutely required by one
person for living. At the increased ex-
pense of 1886 cents, more elaborate diet
can be made with twenty-six ounces
bread, two ounces Goldfish, two ounces
lard, sixteen ounces potatoes, one pint
milk, and ounce of sugar and three cups
tea. AS food is the most expensive fac
tor of living, it is capable Of the most
intelligent selection and depends more
upon Individual taste and judgment
than any other condition of life, since
rent and clothes are fixed more for ex-
traneous circumstances and less yield
ing to choice. The intelligent working
man gains by careful study of bill
of fare. 1t is useful for him to know
that among vegetables foods in common
use, oatmeal, beans and potatoes are
the cheapest, that one of the greatest
dietary needs of the workingman is
sufficient supply of an inexpensive,
wholesome fat, and that cheap meats
may be as nutritious as costly cuts
The prevention of waste by a judicious
cooking is an important matter for the
| consideration Of the workingman in
which he can be helped by his wife s care
| fulness. 1t would be difficult to estimate
| the amount of waste in American
kitchens caused by the ignorance of the
true value of food, but it is known to
be unnecessarily large. The average
workingman is not ready to be con-
WINGED that dinner of roast pork is
more extravagant than meal of sim
pier and more digestible food, and that
| by diet of cake and pie he will require
more food to supply the needs of his
system than by a meal of soup and
| bread. One of the missionary aims of
the public cooking school is the simpli-
| flying of the taste, so that the living of
| the workingman may be less extrava-
CANT and more wholesome.