New-York tribune., 1905-01-08
LIFE IN ITALY.
What the Professional Worker Earns and
Saves
From The Cornhin Magazine.

From The Cornhin Magazine
The typical Italian professional man has an
income of 10000 lire, or about t4Oo a year
with which TO get along and bring up tour
children. At the outset he makes great saw
ing by avoiding the eXtraVGganceS ana the
company of smart society.
With some exceptions the Italian professional
classes do not mix with the smart society,
where alone entertaining on a large scale is
done and even in their own circle they hardly
ever give a regular dinner party or even
large reception. They occasionally ask a friend
or two in to a meal. the wife has an 'at home
day, and certain festivals there is large
family gathering; but everything is done IN the
simplest manner.
Flats are common in the Italian towns; in
deed. detached and self-contained houses are
costly than flats. while the accommodation Is
not good. Taxes are higher and there are
many additional expenses. fiat OF ten or
twelve rooms in which the hall, the kitchen
and other offices are included, Will cost l.2OO
lire (f4S) year on the third or fourth hoor or
large house. the ground floor first or sec
ond OF smaller A ground floor fiat some
times includes bit of garden The rooms are
costing ESQ a year. and far larger than those
of fat at f200 or ESQ in a moderately good
situation.
On the other hand such apartments are
usually unprovided with modern conveniences.
There is no bathroom, there are no hot water
taps. except In the kitchen. The stairs are
badly kept and Ill lighted. and there Is little at
tempt at tasteful decorations unless the house
happens to be old one with frescOed walls.
s,
electric bells are almost universal Lifts are
very rare and only found In large and expen-
sive flats. In Florence there are hardly any
except in the public buildings and hotels. The
rent includes water and all repairs. The amount
Of the latter, OF course. depends good deal
on the virtues of the landlord.
Good Italian servants the best in the
world, for others show much cOnsidera-
ton for their masters, for whom they often en-
tertain a genuine affection. They have no high
and mighty airs; they do not give notice IL
they are requested to do some work not strictly
within their province. nor do they change their
situations every three months. One family will
keep one resident servant, who cooks and at
tends to most of the housework. and q nezzo
servizio. charwoman, who comes In for n
few hours every day two or three times a
week. The general receives from I5 10 25
lire d2s. TO SD month. and the charwon,an
allowance for wine-which in ItaIv Is a neces-
sity rather than luxury and not an expensive
item TIE total cost per annum for servants
amounts in this case TO $50 lire (flS
frugality in contrast to our luxurious living
marks the Italian board. They have sufficient
but make no display. Climate naturally has
much 10 do with the character OF the daily
menu Breakfast Is reduced to vanishing point
ana consists OF cup OF coffee and milk with
or without bread and butter. Lunch az midday
lnciudes hgnt dish. a meat course and fruit
and cheese. Dinner. at q or o. m consists
OF soup, two courses and cheese and fruit Pud-
ding Is eaten at dinner once or twice vveax,
or when guests are invited Wine rsuSu,, -
Chianti or Tuscany. is drunk with both meals
ana black coffee follows after Afternoon ten
N'hSi OAig Ai the niSneSt families with Eng
hsh connections. but stray visitors are repaled
with sweet wine and biscuits. Good vtna ecsts
from Cd 10 Is. Sd. flask containing rearIv
nve pints As sugar is heavily taxed lam. nud-
dings and cakes luxuries The toraI tS,,,
spent on food and drink may be SET Sor,, o''a ~
f112 year N"" az
Nor nave italian husbands very much 70 com,
plain OF in the way OF ''the GROWING hs,Stcar
OF marriase' on the score Of feminine extrsyas
ssahee, The amount spent on clothes however
uoes @ seem large In the case In roint N Is NOT
Wy ier from one-quaTter OF the entire incorne
h;uucauon being ls.-Sely under the state cor
tho. tbo,: is tairly cheap In the primary schools
range from ca to &c year Al ths ,,,ssss sney