The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-05-15
LIVED SIX MONTHS ON $40.


no" n Newspaper Man In Hard Luck
Managed to Exist.
Six months ago q newspaper man
raule to Chicago TO get work on one of
'lis big papers here. Like many another
man from the country. he thought that
the fact that be was head and shoulders
above the other newspaper men i'll his
little town was proof that he was able
to stand the keen competition in Chlca,
go. But he found that the places were
filled, and that there were at least 80
per cent more pegs than holes He was
determined not to so back to his little
town, so he remained in Chicago i'll the
hope hat be wonld get a place
Meanwhile be bad no money what
ever aid 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
Turing ti'e six months was about 81. 80
rMr week, his total earnings for that
period, in fact, being emily $40. Never
'heless he managed to live without Dor
rowing any money, for he had no
friends in Chicago from whom be oould
hurrow, 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 CT the
advantages of newspaper work in a big
city and its consequent rewards.
Few people would believe that a man
could live in Chicago for six months on
SO, but he did it. OF course be did not
dine at u fashionable restaurant. He ate
his meals Gil Clark street al some sacri-
fee ct his pride. but without the knowl-
edge Of cry Of his acguaintapces. No
que would know whe,e be ate, for nore
Of the men WHOM he saw during the
day would 20 10 such q place. His
meals usually ccst him 8 cents each,
aud they We're good meas, in Quantity,
Il not in quality.
You can buy u luxurious breakfast on
Clark street for d cents. 1t will consist
of three eggs, bread, butter and coffee,
and any one inclined TO doubt the state
ment can 20 and try the meals. The
places are easily fourd. There are al
ways big signs outside Of them contain
ing names of the articles of food and
the prices. For 8 cents be bought his
dinner, which consisted of any kind OF
meat. potatoes, bread and coffee. A
eimilar bill Of fare at the same expense
formed his supper. Sometimes he would
pay 10 cents for his 1iuner, and then
he would ket TWO more vegetables and
some pie FOR dessert. Thus his meals
cost 10 cents a duy. Gr 81. 05 u week.
He slept III Il 10 rent lodging house
in the same room with Il half dozen 9th
or men. The beds were small, but he
always slept souudly, and zone of the
inmates knew him. They were not in
quisitiye avd were too much bothered
by their own troubles TO care to ask his.
Seventy cents a week vas the cost OF
his lodging. This was a total Of $1.75
for a weeks board and lodging. His
other fixed expenses were for tobacco,
newspapers ard writing paper. He
smoked o pipe, the tobacco costing 10
cents a week. He had to buy a couple
Of newspapers each day, which meant
20 cents u week, although sometimes
he would look ut those in the reading
rooms OF the Libraries. His copy paper
cost him only 10 cents a week, leaving
a margin Of 80 cents.
The only drawback about sleeping in
a 10 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 a spare writer on the city
staff. Now he earns $40 or $12 a week,
and he is able to live more luxuriously.
But the reporter is now willing to be-
lieve, as be knows by practical expert
ence, that a man who can make 50 OF
So a week need not starve in a big city.
Chicago Times-H Herald.
1