Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-13
A QUESTION OF FIVE CENTS A DAY


a QUESTION OF FIVE CENTS A DAY
In an article upon remedies for social
evils, printed in the current number of the
Fo7am, Mr.. Edward Atkinson suggests
how great deal can be added to the sum
Of human happiness by very simple lit
tie economy. The idea is not in any sense
new, and it is so trite that it is at first
surprising that so distinguished a Stats
tician should deem ii necessary to devote
several columns to the task of emphasize
ing SO simple proposition as this, that
FIVE cents saved per day for every member
of the household will add greatly to the
comforts of all. But it is presently per-
ceiyed that Mr.. Atkinson's purpose is well
intended, and that there is no waste of
energy on his part For the fact is that
for SO small an economy as he proposes,
because of its apparent inconsequence, it is
difficult to secure attention from the very
people who most need to practice it. He
starts out with the statement that science
has demonstrated that half the income of
90 per cent. of the people is consumed in
procuring food. How large part of this
half is wasted by poor cooking?
How much of human force is wasted
in consequence of bad cooking?
How much of dyspepsia results
How much is the working capacity i'm
paired in consequence? He makes no
answer himself nor is it necessary every
reader can respond from his experience
and observation, and replies will only differ
IN the percentages returned. Now if this
waste amounts to so much as five cents per
day per head in a family of FIVE, and
community group of 200 such families be
taken, the gross loss is represented by the
sum S109,500 year. That is to say, as
this shrewd writer puts it, if all the cooks
we're good cooks, and all the house.
wives good buyers, there could be enough
saved not only to put over $109,500
annually into other comforts than they
now have in every group of 5000, but
there would be better health and greater
output of energy and more happiness
consequent upon the decrease of human
suffering and the increase of human COM
forts.
This is assuredly strong argument for
putting education in cookery very much
more prominently into the foreground
But if Mr.. Atkinson's suggestion should
appear impossible of realization to some,
It remains that it is altogether possible in
most households to make the saving he
suggests in the economic use of things
that indeed might be wholly dispensed
with-as liquors and tobacco. 1t is very
easy to understand that the saving
of the S91 % suggested would materi-
ally contribute to the better housing
and clothing of its benefciaries. Mr..
Atkinson declares that he expects to be
met with derislon for his very simple sug-
gestion, but he is right, when defending it,
IN declaring that "real life consists in the
conversion of force; that is, in the work,
no matter what its character, that is ex-
erted in giving direction to the natural
forces by which life is sustained" 1t fol-
lows that whoever economies that work
by fostering the most economical CONVEX
sion, no matter how trifing the effort NAV
appear when represented in dollars and
cents contributes to the betterment of the
race, and the amelioration OF human suf-
fering by charging the capacity for human
comfort. Mr.. Atkinson reduces his propo-
sition to a personal demonstration by
another process which we cannot now
more than refer to. Placing the earnings
of man and one child in a mechanical
vocation at 81 $50 year, the family at six
in number, the food at % cents day per
capita, personal sundries cents, clothing
z cents, household sundries cents, rent 8
cents, deposits little over 2 cents, taxes
little less than 8 cents, profit upon work or
contribution to capital at the ratio of
10 per cent. on the gross value of the
product cents, and there will remain
s cents a day per capita compensation
for the use of capital. Now how can such
family improve its condition? Taking
up the schedule item by item, he finds but
one, that of food, open to reduction, and
that not in the quantity consumed, since
each person, rich or poor, needs the same
average of nutrients. But the economy, or
saving, is to be made as in the first in
stance, in the right selection and proper
preparation of food, and in the avoidance
of waste in its consumption. In this direc-
ton be believes, as must all who give the
subject thought, there is a large margin of
saving possible. There is a deal more of
wisdom and practical sense in such consid-
erations than in the political agitation fos-
tered by demagogues and so-called leaders
Of wage-earners, with theories for the bet
terment of the workers of the age. Per-
sonal economy is likely TO do great deal
more for the people, as the essayist re-
marks than the efforts to upturn constitu-
lions and reform the social system accord
ing to fanciful ideas.
THE MODERN NOVEL.