Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-23
WHAT A MAN COSTS.
Diary of Householder Who Spent
$40, 900 in Twenty-Six Years.


Sac, 900 in Twenty-Six Years.
What does it cost to bring up family :?
A gentleman whose experience will be
recognized as having points in common
with other householders, has preserved
an account of the expense to which he
has been in rearing family OF four
children. Today he entered the follow
ing statement in his diary. 1t might be
a valuable statistical fact for the census
takers.
''Today 1 close my diary Twenty-six
years ago | undertook to keep an accu-
rate statement of all my earnings and
expenses, so that | might know actually
how much it costs to live in the married
state. Then all was anticipation. land
my young wife counted our resources and
our expectations. | was receiving $15 a
week, with a promise of more. / owned
a house comfortable enough for frugal
young people to begin life in. We were
spared house rent, therefore, and our
expenses have never included this item.
Retrospectively, l see that we have
brought up four children in COM
paratively easy circumstances. My
health has been good and my
earnings have been constantly received.
| now receive $50 week, and we still
own the homestead without any great
additions to its wealth, except in an in
creased amount of furniture. | have
little more money than had when first
married. Perhaps, all told, l have
$3, 500 now of assets; then had perhaps
~, 500. We have never wanted for
bread. Sometimes we have felt in need
of more money. Three of the children
Il,
week the fourth graduates at the high
school, having received the same school
ing that the others have had, and will
begin to look out for himself.
81 shall not necessarily be at any
more expense on account of my children,
and the diary properly ends now. Would
perience again OF rearing family? |
greater part, this question, and | know
that she spoke with a heart full of love,
but was compelled to say: Not for all
that money could buy would l go
through again what has been necessary
to rear a family
Expressed in dollars, the totals are
these: In twenty-siX years we have re-
ceived from my wages and incidental
and the children, $40, ,900--or say 49,
OO0--besides the amount of increase in
the permanent assets. Given a plant
of about $4,000 and two employees, man
and wife, it has taken, therefore, about
$4,000 to each man produced. This
of course, includes all employees ex-
penses. The plant is slightly enhanced
in value, but the employees have seen
their best days. The quality of the
goods is yet to be demonstrated. Pros
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
average per week, first five years, 81
six years, $l3 week. For ten years it
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 children's shoes. 1 never
could understand how, with all the
civilization of the age, and the demand
for cheaper results, children's shoes
have not been reduced in price. The
human shoe is failure. No man not
rich can afford to buy shoes for family,
and if had it to do | would go to Tim
buctoo, where neither horses, mules,
camels nor men are shod. ."-[Indian
apolis News.