The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-15

especially in France, where most Of 1t is
imported, the best coming from the United
States. 1t ranges fro $2 to $40 a ton,
and American anthracite sells at fabulous
prices. Matches in England are oom-
paratively cheap, but in France they are
mere EXCUSES, f1arng up when struck, only
to sputter and go out. Fully a quarter
are useless, and yet a tiny box containing
sixty costs 2 cents.
Fruit ia dear in London, but even more
so in the French capital. Good oranges
bring 2 cents, while bananas are 2 cents
apiece. In the autumn, If the vintage
has been rich, good grapes sell at 10 cents
a pound. This Ia perhaps the cheapest
fruit that France produces, and cheap
wine is about the only luxury the poorer
classes enjoy.
One reason why eatables are dearer in
France than in England Is the tax put upon
every commodity coming from the country
Eggs, butter, milk, fruit and vegetables
are taxed heavily, and. as a consequence,
the peasant must add an extra cent or half
cent TO each pound he sends to market
Eggs are from two and a half to five cents
each and milk costs ten cents a litre. Even
then it is none too rich. The best milk
sold, to be used by infants and invalids,
sells from 20 to rs cents a litre.
In a good neighborhood a ha bitable
| apartment Of four or five rooms on the
fourth floor, for example, with nc elevator,
brings in something like s2s a month. This
does not include the concierge's fees or the
hundred and one petty taxes put on the
tenant. All told the rent would nun up
to about sSi.
Apartments with bathrooms can only
be found in the new buildings and away
from the historic quarters o. Paris, and
for such luxuries one must pay from S55
up Apartments with electric light, steam
heat and bathrooms begin at $65 a month.
The apartment system ts not SO common
in London as in Paris. Families who can
afford to pay q high rent generally take an
entire house Of three stories. AS a rule
these are old and hare of ~conveniences
but they are In the sristocratic old neigh
borhoods, and a habitation of nine or ten
rooms rents at from $50 a month up. Flats,
IL thew are new and in a central part, average
! 500 a month.
D II the economical French housekeeper
calls in help abe hires a femme de n,endpe
TO come for two OF three hours a day. Such
a servant does the cleaning, prepares the
heaviest meal and generally receive about
"a a month for her services. This does
not include her board. The honesty OF
such a person is often in question and
such workers rave none too good a name
among housekeepers.
Parisians who can afford it strain a point
and hire a woman for the entire day. She
then does all the cleaning and cooking
and accompanies the children to and from
school. For a family of four Ter wages
range ( ON 81 to $40 a month.
Servants in London do not as a rule re
ceive higher wages, but where one French
servant can do all the work two are em
ployed for the same duties in London
for if English housekeepers are extrava
CANT in anything it is in the numeer o
help they keep. There a m in ordinar,
circumstances has a maid 10 assist her snt
er daughter in dressing; to answer thei
beck and call and to attend TO the darn
ing and tnending But the helpful maic
is not 30 popular in England as formerly