Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-27
WHAT A FAMILY COSTS.
Extract From the Diary Of q Practical
Man-Shoes Beat Everything.

From the Indianapolis News.
What does it cost 70 bring up famiiyf A
gentleman whose experience will be recognized
a. having points in common with other house
holders has preserved an account OF the
expense to which he has been in rearing .
family Of four children. Today he entered the
following statement in his diary. II might be
valuable fact for the census takers:
To-day close my diary. Twenty-six years
ago today undertook TO keep an accurate
statement Of all my earnings and expenses, so
that might know actually how much it costs
TO live in a married state. Then all was an
ticipaton. and my young wife counted our
resources and our expectations. received SIS
q week, with the promise of more. owned .
house comfortable enough for frugal Young
people to begin life in. We were spared house
rent, therefore, and our expenses have never
included this iteri Retrospectively l see that
We have brought up four children in COMPARE
lively easy circumstances. My health has been
good and my earnings have been constantly
received now receive $50 week, aud we
still own the homestead, without any great adj
ditions to Its wealth except in an increased
| amount OF furniture. / have little more
money than had when first married Per-
haps. all told, have Is, 600 now of assets, then
had perhaps 81, 500. We have never wanted
for bread. Sometimes We have felt in need OF
making their own way. Next week the fourth
graduates at the high school. having received
the same schooling that the others have had,
and will begin TO look out for himself.
Il shall not necessarily be at any more OK
pense on account of my children. and the diary
properly ends now. Would l be able to 20
through the same experience again of raising
family? / asked my companion, who had
borne the greater part this question, and
know that she spoke with heart full of love.
n for oil hat
money could buy would go through again
what has been necessary to rear a family
Expressed in dollars the totals arc these:
In twenty-six years we have received from my
| through my wife and the children $40, 9O0-or.
say S4o,o00-besides the amount of increase in
the permanent assets. Given plant OF about
$4,000 and two employees, a man and wife. il
has taken, therefore, about $4,000 to each
man produced. This, of course, included all
employees expenses. The plant is slightly en-
HANGED III value, but the employees have seen
their best days. The quality of the goods is
yet to be demonstrated. Prospects happily
point to cessation of labor and an increase of
receipts, but there is no certainty about this
The employees are proud Of their work, but
don't want another Job.
Some OF the items OF expense have been
these: Doctors bills (twenty-seven years),
81, 100 (and all paid. probably the only instance
on record); groceries, average per week first
five years. 81; next three. sc; remainder Of the
twenty-six years, sl3 a week. For ten years it
has taken on an average one pair of shoes per
week for the family, including myself and wife.
The most annoying thing have ever known is
the rapidity with which children wear out shoes
Only one thing approaches 1.-THE high price of
childrens shoes. / never could understand
how, with all the civilization Of the age and
the demand for cheaper results, chidren's
shoes have not been reduced in price. The
human shoe is a failure. No man not rich can
afford to Duy shoes for n family and N I Ind NJ
to do would go to Timbuctoo. where neither
horses, mules, camels, nor mon are shod."