Omaha daily bee., 1897-01-04
High FriCes of Many Articles Unaffected BY
Hard Times. ..
AS STATIONARY AS A POSTAGE STAMF
The Drain Confined to The Resources
of the Weather CInssCa-HotcI
Rates, High Wines and
Amuscmcnts.

truth is that, although there has been a
prolonged and wearisome decline in the
price of labor, land, grain bonds, stocks,
manufactures, and in the general cost of liv-
ing until 1. would seem as If the lowest
possible strata had been reached, there are
plenty OF things which today cost just as
much and in many cases even more than
ever. Fortunately they are nearly all in
directions that affect only the wealthier
classes, and there ought to be solid con-
ISOLATION TO those gentle souls who feel that
each additional dollar squeezed out of a rich
man is somehow a deserved and meritorous
extortor to know that about every luxury
is quite as expensive today as in the past.
Living at a strictly first-class hotel In any
city is as costly, If not more so than few
years ago. Four and a half to five dollars
day and upwards is the unfiinching indiVldual
rate on the American plan, and that merely
means a single room for one person, or 80
to $40 q day for two. bath adds from
81 to s.. so day more. High-class hotels on
the European plan charge 81 day for the
meanest of their apartments, without board,
and the average rate is 81. suite of good
rooms at the Waldorf costs an average oil
Sc for each apartment and there are several
other houses in New York charging about the
same European hotels in Chicago Phila-
III,
these figures some, but not materially, and
the trend is steadily upward. Permanent
guests fare some better. but two people
well quartered for the season at any nigh
class hotel, either on the American or
European systems, are obliged to pay from
$50 to 500 a week for good suite OF TWO
or three rooms with bath.
RESTAURANT PRICES GOING UPWARD.
Strictly frst-class restaurants whether
tyit obtain
that would be amusing were 1t not Tor thelr
positive sublimity. Tenderloin steaks,
broiled spring chicken and canvas-back
ducks have been brramrtrirll staples at
these places. whereby the observer for years
has been able to measure the rate for every
thing else upon the menu. Only 1t mas been
a barometer that has never gone but one
way, and that upwards. Some years ago II
was thought the limit had been reached
when a nicely plucked "broiler' cost 81 at
Delmonico's and few other places. AT
present $1.50 for a whole chicken and 20
cents for half is a common price although
as high as 81 is charged for the former and
81 for the latter in some places. A tender
loin is now unattainable az any sweil restau-
rant for less than 81, while the dainty can
vas-back has worked it's way up from 81
to a minimum standard price OF 81, and even
$3.50 and $3.50 the latter a Waldorf quota
tion. Terrapin can crawl, and they nave
done so in an upward direction on the
try until they are not obtainable Mary
land style" so-called, or in any other
fashion for less than $3.50 a portion, and
they are rarely real terrapin at that. Every
thing else on the menus has had proper
tionate elevation at the crack places, and
there is not an item which has not scared
even during the hardest of the hard times
A gentleman told with a whimsically drawn
face recently that while, at breakfast that
morning at hotel on the European plan
IN, !, to N moi
potatoes selling somewhere for cents h
peck, he having just ordered two baked
tubers for 40 cents.
WINES HOLD TO THE OLD SCHEDULES.
There is nj depreciation whatever in the
price of wines. Champagne has been a
standard for years at s1.75 to 81 for pints
and $3.50 to $3.50 for quarts, according to
the nerve and style of the hotelkeeper who
purveys them for his guests. Any good I'M
ported claret is 50 quart and upward
Rhine wines are about the same, with
stereotyped charge of IS to $12 for mythical
Steinberger Cabinet and Johannisberger.
Good whisky is 50 and $3.50 bottle anc
brandy SO to $12.
frst-class seat in any leading theater
is S150, with from so cents to 81 added If
there is a really great attraction, like Henry
Irving for instance The regular 81 so seat
is also augmented in value from 20 to 80
per cent if bought at hotel news stand or
of spectators. Private boxes cost from $40
TO $25, according to Locations, theater, and
city. AS for operas, nobody ever expects to
spend less than so and upward for two
seats in any desirable part Of the house.
SOME HIGH PRICES ON CLOTHES.
The best tailors have not come down in
their prices. Ten dollars for a vest, SIS for
trousers, $40 to $45 for a sack coat $50 to
$50 for a GETAWAY. $75 for Prince Albert
and 800 to 800 for a fine overcoat were
flush time rates and are still obtained, while
the fancy halter still gets S. for a derby and
SS for a silk tile. Cloth, labor, rent and
all other items have come down to the swell
tailor, but not his prices to his customers.
Excellent ready-made clothing Is obtainable
at a fifth Of what the highgrade sartorial
artist charges, but all men are not physically
adaptable to even the fine variety in sizes
OF the ready-made dealer, while good many
are so mentally miSshapen that only a 500
dress suit will fit either their figure or their
fancy. Anyway, the swell tailors have the
assurance to charge the same old ridiculous
prices, and, as they only need a few such
customers year, are enabled to both live
and thrive.
To travel in first-class style costs more
and more each year. There has been no re-
duction in railway passenger rates OF any
kind anywhere, while the advent of limited
veStibuled and other specially costly trains
has largely increased the expense OF travel
to those whose needs or whims demand the
best of everything. Thirty dollars is the
least for which one person can go from Chi
cago to New York and have all the con-
veniences of the best trains Indeed the
dining car meals and tips to walters, por-
ters. ETC., let alone the "eXcess baggage"
charge, cost considerably above that figure.
WHAT OCEAN TRAVEL COSTS.
1t is not now possible to get any decent
sort OF accommodations for the six or seven
days of an ocean voyage for less than 500,
while the best OF cabins. carrying not more
than two or three people, ruin from $4OO to
$500 each. Many man now pays a steam
ship company from 81 900 to 81 500 for the
voyage to Europe and return Just for him
self and wife, 1'ii
Carriage hire-the best-is as expensive
as ever A drive in Central park New
York, with pair of horses Is SO and to
Riverside park $40. In Chicago a two hours
drive in the parks amounts to $5 and up
wards. One dollar an hour for a cheap
coupe, $1,50 for a good brougham, 81 for a
landau, and SO for a 'theater job" were
ante-panic prices and are still maintained
Horses are cheaper. and so is labor, feed
and even good carriages. harness, ETC., but
the liveryman's prices are more inclined to
edge upwards than to drop.
Good domestic help" OF every sort is as
expensive as ever Cooks, chambermaids,
buffers, coachmen. parlor and lady's maids,
and all other competent assistance seem
serenely outside the laws OF trade and labor
depression Their wages are certainly no
la..t hi