The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1896-12-17
WHERE LIVING IS CHEAP.
Expenses of Negroes Household on the
Delaware aud MARYLAND Peninsula.

WHERE LIVING 10 Of1EpFs
Expenses Of a Negroes Household on the
Delaware aud Maryland Peninsula.
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.
1t is their further boast that family
may enjoy the luxuries of life cheap
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 PENN
sula are colored people. The rural
negro in those parts, working the year
through, probably averages less than
5000 in cash for the whole time. Few
| negroes work the year round, and the
average earnings for able-bodied col
ored men, working when work is to
be had, are probably less than $3.50
year, while many earn less than 500
| in cash, and some are almost habitually
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
q 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 extremely cheap, in many parts, in
deed, to be had for the gathering.
It has been estimated by those ac-
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 luxuries from his needs may
live on the peninsula for about $50 a
year. This will provide for him cabin
and little patch Of ground at $40 a
year, 1000 behring's at so cents, to be
cured and barreled for so cents more,
making ST in all; $50 pounds of pork
at 6 cents pound; S10.sO; 500 pounds Of
cornmeal at $40; coffee, sugar and to-
bacco, Sc; clothing, SIS; total, S62.sO.
The man also cultiyates his little patch
for fresh vegetables and feeding
chickens.
There is many 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 a month, or
if there are too many children at home
may take in washing and so earn $25 or
$50 year. The children provide wild
berries as summer luxuries, and in good
years peaches may be had almost fol
the asking The children wear moth
ing in particular all summer, and the
cast-off rags of their parents in win
ter. If the father is thrifty and has nc
bad habits the youngsters may have
whole shoes in winter. Cheap as shoe.
: ere nowadays they probably cost a:
much rs all the other clothing of thu
household put together. The whole
? family, father, mother and two, three
: four, five or Elk children, live on les!
than $3.50 year, plus the products O
the garden, the fshing-rod and thu
| wing piece.
II the family lives along q strip o
) salt water there may be crabs, oysters
clans and other such luxuries free
!. with fishing of one kind or another II
fall back upon as gainful occupation
, when other things fail. The neares
pine forest and the shores of the rive
or bay furnish fuel. II the man b
\ very energetic he keeps cow to b
Il pastured on the roadside, with one O
i: the children 10 tend to it. The disad
Z vantage Of showing signs of thrift o
y prosperity lies in the fact that fam
y lily in such condition is preyed upon b.
!: less industrious and fortunate neigh
[. bors The three-room cabin at $40
u year is crowded to suffocation in wiz
ter by relatives and acquaintance.
\; Life Is not reduced to its lowest term
z by the man with $50 in cash veal
u There are those that live Oh much less
4 hunting and fishing throughout mos
y of the year, finding bed in some othe
4: mans cabin, and paying for it in tn
y products of rod and gun, wearing som
Il white mans cast-off clothing, and PEE
\; haps not unwillingiy passing winte
Y In Jail for petit larceny.-N. Y. Sun.