Daily camera., 1897-07-07
LACKED LUXURY.
A Newspaper Mans Trying Ex-
perience il Chicago.
Being Una.Ae to Obtain Employment
He Lives for Six Months
on $7O-HOw He MAN.
aged 1t.

Six months ago a newspaper man
came to Chicago to get work on one of
the big papers here. Like many another
man from the country he thought that
the fact that he was head and shoulders
above the other newspaper men in his
little town was proof that he was able
to stand the keen competition in Chi
cago. But he found that the places
were filled, and that there were at least
so per cent. more pegs than holes. He
was determined not to go back to his
little town, so he remained in Chicago
in the hope that he would get place.
Meanwhile he had no money what
ever and had to practice the closest
economy. He wrote five or six columns
of copy each week and tried to sell the
stories to the Sunday papers. Now and
then he sold something, but his income
during the six months was not more
than $3.50, his total earnings for that
period, in fact, being only $40. Never
theless he managed to live without bor-
rowing any money, for he had no friends
in Chicago from whom he could borrow
and he was too proud to write home
for money. Instead he wrote home
glowing tales of the progress which he
was making and told of the advantages
of newspaper work in big city and it's
consequent rewards.
Few people would believe that a man
could live in Chicago for six months on
$40, but he did it. OF course he did not
dire at fashionable restaurant. He
ate his meals on Clark street at some
sacrifice of his pride, but without the
knowledge Of any of his acquaintances.
No one would know where he ate, for
none of the men whom he saw during
the day would go to such place. His
meals usually cost him five cents each,
and they were good meals, in quantity,
if not in quality.
You can buy luxurious breakfast on
Clark street for five cents. 1t will con-
sist of three eggs, bread, butter and
coffee, and anyone inclined to doubt
the statement can go and try the meals.
The places are easily found. There are
always big signs outside of them con-
tanning names of the articles of food and
the prices. For five cents he bought
Of meat, potatoes, bread and coffee. A
similar bill of fare at the same expense
formed his supper. Sometimes he
would pay ten cents for his dinner and
then he would get two more vegetables
and some pie for dessert. Thus his
meals cost Is cents day, or $1.05
week.
He slept in ten-cent lodging house in
the same room with'a half dozen other
men. The beds were small, but he al
ways slept soundly, and none of the
inmates knew him. They were not in-
quisitive and were too much bothered
by their own troubles to care to ask his.
Seventy cents a week was the cost OF
his lodgings. This was total of $1.75
for weeks board and lodging. His
other fixed expenses were for tobacco,
newspapers and writing paper. He
smoked pipe, the tobacco costing ten
cents a week. He had to buy a couple
of newspapers each day, which meant
25 cents a week, although sometimes he
would look at those in the reading
rooms of the libraries. His copy paper
cost him only ten cents week, leaving
a margin of 80 cents.
The only drawback about sleeping in
a ten-cent lodging house was that there
was no place afforded in which to write,
but he used to go to the public or New
berry library and do his writing there,
where there are ample facilities. Most
of his time was spent in travelling
around on the streets looking for good
Sunday stories.
Such was the life he led for six
months A few weeks ago he was given
a place as space writer on the city
staff Now he earns $40 or S12 week,
and he is able to live more luXuriously.
But the reporter is now willing to be
lieve, as he knows by practical expert
ence, that a man who can make two or
three dollars week need not starve in
big city.-Chicago Times-Herald.