The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1906-07-17
LOW PRICES IN ITALY
IDEAL HOMES MAY BE MAINTAINED
ON MODEST INCOMES.

an Italian business man who has lived
here several years, because they do
not come intending to stay permanent
ly in this country. but only until they
have made little pile, with which they
can go home and live in comfort; but,
on the other hand, Italians often won
der why Americans themselves do not
do this very thing. More of them
would if they realized how much more
they could get for their money over
there than here. In Genoa, for in
stance, on the Via Giulia, which is the
Fifth avenue Of Genoa, there are mod
ern apartment houses, with every con-
venience. These apartment houses are
much handsOmer than those of New
York. They are all built around court
yards, which are paved with marble
and have handsome carriage entrances,
big vases filed with blossoming plants
and marble staircases leading up out
of the courts. You can get a five or
six room apartment in one of these
houses, with bath and electric lights,
for from 1000 to 1900 lire a year
that is, 5000 or $500.
Genoa is thoroughly cosmopolitan.
The restaurants and cuisine Of all ma
tons are to be found there, and every
language is to be heard. In the thea
tiers, from the Teatro Paganini, where
evening dress is required, down, the
best Italian plays and operas are to be
heard. 1t is possible to hear Duse or
Caruso for 20 cents. There are delight
full cafes chantants and outdoor restau-
rants. Up on the hill in the quarter
called Carignano there are big old pal
aces set in great gardens of trees and
flowers, with the whole panorama Of
the bay spread before the windows,
where three or four rooms can be got
for Sc month. On the Corso SOlferi-
no, high street full of gardens, SO a
month will get five rooms and bath on
the first floor.
The climate is much more agree
able than that of New York, and Nice,
Monaco and Florence are within easy
reach. There are all sorts of interest
ing tourist stunts to be done, both in
and out of the city; fine drives and ex-
cursions to quaint little ancient viii
lagos, old castles and suburban resorts.
At the hotels frequented by tourists
prices run up, Of course, but at a quiet
family hotel, such as might be used by
we'll to do middle class Italians, q
couple could get a large furnished
room with board for so cents a day for
the two.
Genoa Is the America of Italy, and
there Is no other point in the peninsula
where the prices are so high. Let US
take Sicily, for instance, the other ex-
IRENE. Palermo Is one Of the most
beautiful cities in the world and sur
rounded by some of the most beautiful
scenery, and the climate is simply per-
feet. The heat of summer is always
tempered by sea breezes. 1t is green all
winter, and the earth Is a defirium Of
fruit and flowers nine months in the
year. 1t Stacks up in November, De-
cember and January and begins again
in February. The Concha dOro-shell
of gold-the far famed plain around
Palermo, is an orchard Of orange and
lemon trees, and they throw away
roses by the bushel basket full to re-
lieve the bushes. The daily carriage
promenade at Palermo shows as much
style as Fifth avenue. Two families
may possibly use one carriage between
them, changing the doors to display
their respective coat of arms, but at
any rate it's all gay and brilliant on
the surface. There are beautiful parks
and drives, fine band concerts and good
theaters, where the best talent in Italy
can be heard for 20 cents or So, as one
chooses.
Now let us suppose man and his
wife with small fixed income, barely
enough to supply the comforts of life
in New York, should settle in Palermo.
They could rent the handsOmest apart
ment in Palermo, on the QuattrO Can't,
the swell square, ten or twelve rooms,
with improvements for 700 lire year
that's $40. You can't get five rooms
in a tenement house on Manhattan for
that amount. For Sc month they can
hire a good cook. For So a month they
can hire two other women servants,
laundress and a maid. For $50 a
month they can keep horse, carriage
and coachman, or for 81 they can hire
a rig for a whole day whenever they
like. AS for food, it IS all fresh and
good. No cold storage is employed. No
eating chickens killed two or three
years ago.
You can buy twenty-five fresh Or
anges or lemons for cent in Palermo.
A nice spring chicken costs 20 cents.
Excellent Marsala wine can be bought
for sc cents gallon, and the COM
mon wine for 80 cents. Everything
is raised in the vicinity and is fresh
and unauthorized. The couple could
live in handsome style for SIS month.
Where in America could as much be
got for the money? The man could
buy a nice little new sailing yacht for
500. which would cost him, with the
nav of one sailor, only Sc or S. month
TO keep I'D. He could buy little steam
Yacht for 1000, which would cost him,
with an engineer and sailor, only $50
q month. For $1,000 he could buy
til ho