The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-11-28
WHERE LIVING is CHEAP.
Expenses of a Negroes Household on the
Delaware and Maryland Peninsula.

Delaware and 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 delieacies 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
er there than elsewhere, and that the
really poor man can live on the penin-
sula for less than anywhere else, save,
perhaps, in China, Japan and some
other Asiatic countries.
The poorest inhabitants of the PENN
sula are eolored people. The rural
negro in those parts, working the year
through, probably averages less than
$500 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 $3.50 a
year, while many earn less than 500
in cash, and some are almost habitnally
idle. In spite of this the negro of the
peninsula is seldom hungry without
the means of appeasing his hunger,
and for three-duarters of the year he
is clad in a fashion that he deems com
Portable. 1t is true that there is often
a 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.
1t has been estimated by those ac-
quainted with the country and upon the
basis of the cost of n slaves keep in
the old days that q man who will rigid
" exclude luxuries from his needs may
live on the peninsula for about 500 Il
year. This will provide for him cabin
and little patch of ground at $50 a
year, 1000 behring's at so cents, to be
cured and barreled for 90 cents more,
making 81 in all; $50 pounds of pork
at cents a pound; $f0.s0; 500 pounds OF
cornmeal at $40; coffee, sugar and to-
baeco, Sc; clothing, So; total, $62.So.
The man also cultiyates his little patch
for fresh vegetables and feeding
chickens.
There is many O 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
Il place as cook at 81 or IS month, or,
If there are too many children at home,
may take in washing and SO earn SIS or
$50 year. The children provide wild
berries as summer luxuries, and in good
years peaches may be had almost for
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 no
bad habits the youngsters may have
whole shoes in winter. Cheap as shoes
are nowadays they probably cost as
much ms all the other clothing of the
household put together. The whole
family, father, mother and two, three,
four, five or six children, live on less
than $3.50 a year, plus the products OF
the garden, the fishing-rod and the
fowling piece.
If the family lives along a strip of
salt water there may be crabs, oysters,
clans and other such luxuries free,
with fishing of one kind or another to
fall back upon as gainful occupation
when other things fail. 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 TO tend to it, The disad-
vantage of showing signs of thrift or
prosperity lies in the fact that fam
lily in such condition is preyed upon by
less industrious and fortunate neigh
bors. The three-room cabin at $50
year is crowded to sutfocation in win
ter by relatives and acquaintance.
Life is not reduced to its lowest terms
by the man with $50 in cash year.
There are those that live on much less;
hunting and fishing throughout most
of the year, finding bed in some other
mans cabin, and paying for 1t in the
products of rod and gun, wearing some
white mans cast-off clothing, and per-
haps not unwillngiy passing winter
in Jail for petit larceny.-N. Y. Sun.