New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-04
HOW ONE WOMAN EXISTED
KIND.HEARTED LANDLADy VINO
FOUND HER STARVING SAID.
MALARIA"
THE ACTUAL EXPERIENCE OF ONE WHO TRIED
TO LIVE AND KEEP UP HER sEIF-REspEcr
ON A DOLLAR A WEEK.

TO LIVE AND KEEP UP HER sELF-REspEcr
ON DOLLAR WEEK
woman In one Of the downtown business of!ces
who Is considered successful in her special line NJ
WORK told the following interesting story of her
carry hardships TO Tribune reporter yesterday:
arrived In strange city with only enough
money to support me for a short time" she said
was not skilled in any practical work as I had
not been aware that should be obliged to earn
my own living. so when my little store was spent.
though had sought diligently. / had not found
regular employment. BY occasional work | was
enabled to exc out existence
rented room for IS month. II was small
cola and dark, and, though It had a window its
light was almost cut off by neighboring wall In
the late autumn and winter went to bed early in
order to keep warm. For many weeks my food
consisted OF stale bread bought for three cents n
loaf and soaked in water that heated over the
gas.
one morning. after long experience OF bread
and-water fare. unable to rise As had
been accustomed to put my own room in order
and go out to work, look for work no one came
near 'le. | lay alone for hours. parched with
thirst, for had neglected to iii my pitcher with
fresh water but at last summoned strength TO put
on some clothes and make my way downstairs to
the landladys I opened her door without
Knocking and. without ceremony pitched forward
and under the table. The good woman and her
daughter put me TO bed. gave NE BROTH and said
mad malaria. The next morning | was on my feet
again. and earned sufficient money 10 pay for n
substantial meal. Soon afterward obtained regu-
lar employment. but at low rates from n scientific
society. AS its meetings were held only In the
evenings. | had almost exclusive use of a warm
and cheerful room, to which | went early in the
morning and which left late in the evening.
AT that period for several months / seldom spent
more than 20 cents week for food. made tea
over the gas in the office and drank without milk
or sugar. Bread was my mainstay. | coca sionay
bought little fruit cheese. a few slices OF
corn beef. AT later time, when looked back on
these experiences humorous incidents I COM
pared notes with the rector OF fourishng church.
who told me that when he was a fatherless lad.
struggling to keep himself at college. he lived
mainly bread, with dried red herring as a
relish
MY fare not conducive to mental or phys
ical strength. but. though was often weak and H.
l managed 10 struggle through, and did per-
nit my relatives and old friends TO know that I
was not living in comfort | do not advise any
working woman TO far. because II is an eco
nomic mistake. One who exists long on almost
starvation diet the risk OF becoming incapaci-
tated for work. and thus necessarily dependent on
relatives or the public Though preferred starva-
ton 10 borrowing cent from those who
would gladly have helped me- | convinced that
no ones sclf-respect independence OF feeling
should be essened by accepting from another hui
man being the means sufficient 10 sustain strength
Later | supplied myself with nourishment on
small allowance.
For more than year I spent only dollar
week for food and kept of every cent
In this dollar included coal oil for my stove
Unless the weather extremely cold. a gallon
Of oil at fifteen cents lasted five weeks In winter
so charged my weekly account three cents for
| oil. II | burned more | paid less for some thing
else. used the stove in the morning to warm
the and make my tea and in the evening
only long enough 10 prepare my dinner AS oil
and gas stoves have no hucs connecting with the
outer air, they often cause headache by Whaling
and eXhausting the atmosphere; therefore. in
order to ventate my room. and avoid being
chilled by sitting III a cold one. usually went to
library. OF some other comfortable pace, after
so ] did not suffer from cold on my return. To
be Obliged to leave ones room TO obtain warmth
one does not expect all the comforts of a home on
lie in providing sufficient material for nourisn-
m l1 at 81 week. but in preparing It before |
hurried away in the morning. when | returned
weared in the evening" in keeping provisions fresh
without With an lie chest and the room free from The
Jars or tins and kept them carefully covered; and
after found sky parlor. opening on fire es-
cape in the rear. kept perishable provisions out
ITO economic time in cooking sometimes
On the rare occasions when ate egg for break
and as soon as it boiled poured 1t oyer the egg
heat letting it remain there fer fifteen minutes
EGGS cooked In this way are delicate the white Is
the, only day when | had time TO spare. usually
cooked enough meat potatoes and oatmeal
several days. provided the weather was sufficiently
cold 10 keep them In good condition. In my old
always been prepared Saturday. to allow the
servants rest and opportunity to go to church;
ut is well known that it is proporiionately more
6 to buy 2r 9de b a9 noof h9m Wb
buy in small amounts because they have no place
/ |
formed friendship with the woman in the room
self-suppor,ing women who live in furnished
rooms. advise cooperative purchasing
tea but drank it only in the morning For
economy Of my nervous system rather than econ
omy Of purse. drank hot water with my evening
meal or. occasionally hot milk ! paid low
price for meat and crackers but both were res goT S
manufacturer They were clean OF good quality nny
served me for two months and apportioned their
cost. and the cost Of all other provisions that l
week on my weekly account For the meat
steaks and chops wore expensive and had no way
shank shoulder round Simmered on a slow
fire and well seasoned, IL was tender and palatabe
o,bar forms utilized every scrap Of bread mca
VERSAILLES or cereals for soups, hashes or
quettes. AS bread was my mains'ay. bought
fast usually consisted only OF this nourshng bread
and tea. with oatmeal or other cereal IN case
at my place OF business. I took the brown bread
with a little fruit, or cheese. When only small
quantity of meat is eaten, there is seheraiIy
craving fer sweets; in cold weather ! olten
bought dates instead Of the more acid fruits. IN
w1rn weather ] lived almost entirely on brown
bread and butter. eggs. fruit and milk. cooking
the eggs which were cheap ut that season. lor
breakfast. . .,.. ,o,r.a ma
After the woman in the room opposite Joined me
I'm purchasing | often cooked pot roast TOT our
Sun1d-.. dinner in her oven. and utilized what was
ieft over as a baked curry for another dinner, or
tho curry he meat chopped hne ana put N
an e,rthen dish with rice and tapioca enough
water 20 permit the grains TO swell and the tatpca
nd Ia ked a
we felt extravagant We made a crust win erateu
bread and butter. When had the use OF an os s
7 vas able also 10 make simple ana inexpensive
puddings for desse-t. But before mad me Deh-
AZ OF this cooperative system t tou' Tnod ' HitS