The morning call., 1892-11-23
ON TWO DOLLARS.
Families Living on That
Much a Day.
rlANY ARE DOING 1T HERE.
" The Calls" Researches Among Fam
lilies of Five to Eight Who Live
on 500 a rIonth.

"Can families consisting Of FIVE 10 eight
members live respectfully in this city on an
income of 81 a day?"
To ascertain if this was possible and
examine into details was the task set to a
CALL reporter of iced nerves and system
case hardened 90 shock or establishment of
any kind.
That there are numbers of families so
doing In numerous sections of the city is O
fact patent to any one upon a moments re-
Election over pay rolls where less than 81 a
day Is paid and family men figure III good
average proportion.
Yet TO discover a dozen such and obtain
facts and figures proved quite formidable
undertaking.
Civility and attention at half dozen
groccry-stores ceased abruptly upon dis
covery that no purchases were to be made.
and a dense ignorance of any such families
as were inquired for reigned amid the soap
and candles.
The first saloon-keeper tackled was
b0isterously genial.
There are stacks of 'em all around" the
reporter was Immediately informed.
"Can you give a single address to start
with?''
Certainly. Begin at the first door down
the street and keep on till you've had
enough" was the prompt reply, accompa-
MED by wave ot the hand toward side
street leading off Sixth street.
Swarms of little children ran about'all
over the street and skylarked around old
men summing themselves on numerous stair
ways.
That's good idea,' grunted a snowy
haired old gentleman on fence.
Seems to me THE CALL is Almighty kind
friend to poor folks. Go ahead and I'll give
you all the information you want.
Personal experience? Well, l live right
here on SEQ a month.
Il rent two floors Of FIVE rooms at S15
month.
II have a wife, three girls and boy,
ranging in age from 20 IS, and we cover
everything on $50 a month
Detail figures? Now you've got me. /
hand my money to my wife and she works
out the details. She's downtown now and
won't be back till late. Come again to-
morrow afternoon and she's give 'em to
you."
liz" e" a. '~"1ed against such an engage
ment and some othe. address was asked for
A big crowd Of merry children had gath
cred round the speakers and took lively
interest in the discussion.
ANY OF these young folk will take YOU
TO their mothers and get you what YOU
want" laughed the old man, waving his
pipe at the youthful spectators.
A chorus of offers broke in at once and a
lively rivalry ensued for the reporters per-
son.
Selecting the best dressed and most intel
ligent child, aged about 10 years, the re.
porter was borne of in triumph by the hero
Of the moment
You bet she does" was the prompt an
swer TO query. Pop only gets So day
and sometimes is out o work. but mommer
skirmshes along jes' the same
Turning I'D a small flight of stairs TO
porch the youngster disappeared within
and presently reappeared, leading a smiling
and somewhat embarrassed mother.
The object of the visit being explained to
her her face clouded.
I'VE have seen much better times and
don't care to have our present hardships
published" she explained little stiffiy.
Your identity will De securely concealed,
and the mere fact of your own experiences
might perhaps induce you to give me some
information which will help hundreds of
others less brave than yourself to follow
successfully In your footsteps" was gently
explained to her,
She was a worthy woman. As well as
raising a family upon 81 day-not always
forthcoming-she promptly signifed her
Willingness to help other families te do the
same.
''My time is very valuable, but can give
sou fifteen minutes if You will ask me ques-
tons that l can answer"
The reporter cast glance round the room,
aneaEly furnished, clean little parlor opened
cut into a larger bedroom equally comfort
ably furnished.
Two smart, well-dressed little boys, aged
- and 10. climbed on to the sofa and took a
lively interest and share in the proceedings,
whilst a chubby little fodder of years
Old busted himself in walking round and
round the intruder and tumbling over his
legs.
I'VE have two rooms upstairs and three
in the basement" she said. Down below
is my kitchen and childrens rooms all
plainly but comfortably furnished as you
see. Figures and details Of living? Well,
that's poser. do it all on 81 day, often
less. but how do it have never had time
&c figure out.
Books? No. I keep no books; 1 run
everything in my head.
Sometimes l have a dollar TO spare at
the end OF the month and that we spend on
Injuries.
People talk OF saving I'D spare money,
but when it only amounts TO dollar every
now and again prefer to spend 1t on some
little immediate happiness to saving it up
for future years when we may not be able
to enjoy ii.
'I'll try 10 give you what figures I can.
We pay SIS month rent and get our water
free. Gas costs US about $50 a month
We economic on that By going to bed
Ema tn tnt, -,
81 make the baby boys clothes myself,
which costs very little, but the Others re-
quire about three suits a year each, averag-
Ing about IS suit; call that "a month.
"My husband requires two suits year,
which makes another four dollars In the
month.
Myself, well don't go out much except
in the evenings and my clothes are a very
small item.
''The boys want pair Of shoes about
every three months at So Is, which divides
into 70 cents month.
my husband and myself will average 81
month In shoes, which allows US two pair
year.
1--WE are insured on 5000 worth Of furni-
ture, which runs to about 20 cents a month
with furniture tax Of 60 cents year.
"Sehoolbooks for the children cost
sogt IS year apiece or say about 81 a
month.
THAT leaves a rough balance of S2S a
month to meet our food bill.
We manage to make 1t do. but can't
tell you the figures In detail. We have
good. plain living. The children are fat
and healthy, as you see, and none Of US
staIVe.
One point can give you Is that we don't
make the mistake of buying 10 cents Of
groceries here and 10 cents there. We buy