The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-02
LOW PRICES
N HAY
Something of the Cost of Liv-
ing in That Land.
I'M SERVING FRUIT
And Other Things, Great Deli
caCylS Shown.
SERVING
FRUIT

emulous -countrymen Cor more like
y women begging 10 DC told precisely
what it costs to live in Italy?" This
is much IKE asking the price Of a din
mond. Something depends upon the color,
shape and size Of the stone; something de-
ponds upon your view Of wilnt living is
and no two people have the same conceD-
ton or the same terms. Nevertheless,
these letters make an irresistible appeal.
do not know what the occult bond is
between poverty and ItaIy-but It exists.
Certain it is that every impeeunious
AE=erican who needs a vacation or seeks
an inspiration reverts fondly to the hope
OF winteung in Italy-h having seen es-
tablished in the dark ages that Italy IS
a place to winter in They have Ell heard
that Italy is so cheap'-otherwise they
could not hope to see it. These are ex-
aetiy the people enc longs 10 help realize
their paradises-the more especially If one
as an inpecunious American herself, has
tried and found it good to pass on the
fruits Of experiences presents itself as
an acceptable .thank-ofte ring fer benefits
TereIved.
rs Italy cheap" This is a question we
have been asking ourselves fer months,
and naTrelling at our own response. for
We always decide she is and yer, taking
the facts separately, it does 1ot seem
that she has any right to be so. And
cheap as she once was even twelve years
ago, she certainly no longer is.
Cheap al all she does not appear to be
at first glance. Every individual thing is
as high or higher than in America. Rents
are high. fod is high. Meat and salt -four
and sugar bring what would be riotprices
at home; even fruit is not cheap In land
OF fruit orchards except with very small
exceptions. Dry goods are as dear and not
nearly so good as with US Every name
able small convenience. from a fatiron TO
an ice-cream freezer, has been imported,
proudly boasts its American or English
origin, and costs accordingly. Lamp oil,
calling itself ''petrolo Americana" costs
a hair-raising figure; fuel is expensive.
But now for the paradox; we pay more
for our coffee. our bread. our milk-for
every separate article we eat and we GER
tainly eat as much. yet It costs Us less
TO eat than it did in America. We pay
more for our stockings. the fabric Of
our gowns-yet it costs less to dress than
1t did there In short, every item is less
cheap, but the aggregate is cheaper&evi-
IDENTIFY a case where the parts are greater
than the whole
How is this accounted for? 1t is accoun-
ed for in two ways-the one good, the
ether bad, but even the good depending
somewhat upon the bad for its existence.
Two things make life in Ealy easy and
cheap. for the individual of small means
the cheapness Of labor and the possibility
OF living 'in small" Mix and butter, as
1 have said cost more than in America.
but what firm there viii deliver two cents
worth of the one and three cents worth
of the other each morning. Instead. one
must buy perhaps eight cents worth of
the one and fifteen cents worth of the
other, then waste two-thirds OF both or
become compulsory benefactor to some
third party, with immediate loss here and
row, and no compromising gain hereafter.
compulsory benevolence not entering into
the celestial account
All summer we have counted II part OF
our JOY TO order for lunch and again for
dinner "a portion" of fruit-or in greedy
moments, two portions. In America that
means plate Of grapes OF peaches with
fruit-knise; IN Italy It prefigures a whole
sacrament. First the bowl (unless It hap
pens TO be a deep silver dish; the IA lin
ing of superb grape leaves. chosen each
one for its perfection; then cautiously laiu
in purple plums. or beryl grapes. figs
both gree nand purple. peaches-what YOU
will. and over all q gentle powdering of
.neve" ice sh;vered into snowness: last,
whom it Is placed before you. the waiter.
smiling with artistic satisfaction at your
pleasure. drenches the whole with water
from A csrafe-water that has rushed
perhaps sixtydve miles from the noun
tain coolnesses above Subiaco TO your
lips. No decidedly The Italian way of do
ing things is no quantite negligible wher.
one makes up accounts with Italy, Nor
is this a digression-for who in America
would, who indeed. could take all that
trouble for a six cent dish OF fruit. time
representing money. and so much more Of
IL than here:
In the same way. It would not pay Us
perhaps in America TO keep people trot-
ting about with little ovens bearing two
franc dinners TO families-yet, I believe it
viii some day be found 10 play well TO
Fend such little dinners about in great
elect-ic-heated couveyances. And. IN the
meantime. IN Italy the little ovens are
held TO pay now. In America we may
get up our couragFto order one evenly
nve-cent portion of soup for two. bur in
italy it IS the waiter who suggests that a
four-cent portion is sufficient. and two
portions extravagant. seems that you eat
.'pochissimo- The habit of dividing por-
lions IN italy amounts 10 positive ;nsti-
tution-the Italians themselves subdivide
them. I should not like TO say how for
have seen q portion Of dolce (sweetsl
made 70 so. Meanwhile. in America we
read on our bills OF fare that one portion
ordered for two viii be charged extra.
Just as our dairies warn us, No orders
received or delivered under'-sra amount
to spoil the appetite One would think Va
supported Society for the Encourage
ment OF National Extravaganza"
The same fine exemption extends TO an
departments OF the domestic machinery.
Are you busy and want your stockings
darned9 Emilia win DO it fer two cents a
pair; or a skirt rebound? She win eject
iit on the basis OF the same tariff. or
iblouse awshed or a dozen handkerchiefs
ironed9 For what else does she exIste The
sicuor desires his suit pressed. his shoes
nented IT. I'VE minutes What other plea
sure has Emile in life than 10 trip 10 the
tailor or the boot maker
Since we are on the perilous ground Of
clothes. we are near the pathetic subject
CT the sarta (dressmaker). You buy your
material FOR q cotton waist. paying rathcr
more than in America, for poorer aTti-