The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-11-24
WHERE living IS CHEAP.



Expenses OF . Negroes Hoosshold o. -
Delaware aud Marylahd Psninsuia-
1t is the boast of eastern shore men
that the land and waters of the Della
ware and Maryland peninsula produce
more table delicacies than any other re-
gion of equal area in the United States
It is their further boast that family
may enjoy the luxuries OF life cheap
er there than elsewhere. and that the
really poor man can live ON the PENN
sula for less than anywhere else, save.
perhaps, in China Japan and some
other Asiatic countries.
The poorest inhabitants of the penin-
sula are colored people. The rural
negro in those parts, working the year
through, probably averages less than
SEQ in cash for the whole time. Few
negroes work the year round, and the
average earnings for able-bodied coli
ored men, working when work is to
be had, are probably less than $50 q
year, while many earn less than $500
in cash, and some are almost habitualiy
idle. In spite of this the negro of the
peninsula is seldom hungry without
the means of appeasing his hunger.
and for three-quarters OF the year he
IS clad in fashion that he deems COM
Portable. 1t is true that there is often
painful lack OF wooden garments in
winter, but the winter of the peninsula
below the mouth of the Delaware bay
is always short and usually mild, while
fuel in nearly all parts of the peninsula
is exit emely cheap, in many parts, In.
deed, to be had for the gathering.
1t Ia. been estimated by those &C
quainted with the country and upon the
basis of the cost Of a slaves keep in
the old days that man who will rigid
ly exclude Injuries from his needs may
live on the peninsula for about 500 a
year. This will provide for him cabin
and q little patch of ground ct $40 .
year, 1000 behring's as so cents. to be
cured and barreled for 50 cents more.
making 81 in all; $50 pounds of pork
at cents pound; $1,000; SEQ pounds Of
cornneal at $40; coffee, sugar and to-
becce, Sc; clothing, SIS; total. $50 80.
The man also cultivates his little patch
for fresh vegetables and feeding
chickens. -
There is maxy /. negro family living
in just this fashion. The husband may
have work for three-fourths Of the
year, while the wife may be able to get
. place as cook at 81 or So month, or,
if there are too many children at home.
may take in washing and SO earn s25 or
$50 year. The children provide wild
berries as summer Injuries, and in good
years peaches may be had almost for
the asking. The children wear noth-
ing in particular all summer, and tho
cast-off rags of their parents in win
ter. If the father is thrifty and has no
bad habits the youngsters may have
whole shoes m winter. Cheap as shoes
are nowadays they probably cost as
much ~ all the other clothing OF the
household put together. The whole
family, father, mother and two, three,
four, five or ak children. live on less
than $3.50 q year. plus the products Of
the garden, the fishing-rod and the
fowHng piece.
II the family lives along q strip OF
salt water there may be crabs, oysters.
clstis and other such Injuries free,
with fshihS 81 one kind or another TO
tall back UPON AZ gainful occupation
when other. things tail. The nearest
pine forest and the shores Of the river
or bay furnish fuel. If the man be
very energetic he keeps cow to be
pastured on the roadside, with one OF
the children 10 tend to it. The disad-
vantage Of showing signs OF thrift or
prosperity hes in the fact that FAM
lily ia such condition is preyed upon by
less Industrious and fortunate neigh
bors. THE three-rootn cabin at $40 q
year is crowded to suhocation in win
ter by relatives and acquaintance.
Lie is not reduced to its lowest terms
by the man with $50 in cash a year.
There are those that live on much less:
hunting and fishing throughout most
Of the year. finding bed in some other
man's cabin. and paying for it in the
products Of rod and gun. wearing some
white mans cast-of clothing, and per-
baps not unwillirgiy passing winter
= Jail for petit larcenv.-.E. Y. Sun.