The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1908-03-18
PROBLEM HOW TO EXIST ON $4,000 YEAR

margin that the remaining $4,000
would be little enough to cover such
extra expense as would arise from
day to day for man living as Mr.
Thomas and hundreds of other men
are living in New York.
Men whose opinions were asked
by the World as to what man real
ly needs to keep up front" in
New York, following Mr.. Thomas
estimate of his necessities, were
ready to discuss the proposition on
general lines, but were naturally
averse to being quoted as to their
personal expenditures. One of them,
I whose name figures frequently in
the newspapers in interviews on mat
tiers of national Importance, said:
ct must be remembered that the
establishment and it's appurtenances
which MI. Thomas is called upon to
maintain occupy relatively the same
position as the modest home for
which a man reared in more humble
circumstances must provide. 1t is
as necessary for him to have a box
at the opera, a retinue of servants,
automobiles and to entertain his
friends in return for their entertain
ments, to which he and his wife are
invited, as it is for the laboring man
to have three square meals day,
if he is to keep up the strength
which is necessary to his work.
"The elimination of any of these
enioyments-tO him necessarleS-lS
not unlike the curtailments in a
more moderately conducted house
hold of simpler forms of diversion
which are not considered eXtravagant
from a conservative standard. The
step from affluence to comparative
economy is as radical in the case of
Mr.. Thomas, taking his own estimate
on it's face value, as would be that
of a laboring man who was suddenly
called upon to reduce his expenses
to one-third. They say that every
thing is relative, and it is as GER
tainlv true in the case of a million
aire forced to curtaih his expendi-
lures as in the case of the humblest
workingman.
Miss Morosini's Gown.
Miss Morosini, daughter Of a New
York banker, for instance, has pub
Iiclv announced that she spends
IS15O.OOO a year for gowns alone.
That. of course, is equaled only by
the most extravagant of the wealthy
set who have set a new pace In eX-
nenditures. but the least estimate
that can be made for anybody who
exDects to be we'll dressed, as society
views dressing, is $4,000 a year.
"IJnder a reduced schedule OF
household expenses imposed upon
him Mr.. Thomas will undertake 10
cover all of his living expenses by
the expenditure OF third OF what
Miss Morosini spends for one item
alone. and he will find it no easy
matter to come out even at the end
of the year. Take his servants, for
instance. AS people live nowadays
there must be a valet for the man
of the house. a maid for each or the
women in the household, Dutler'
chef-for a mans friends cannot De
invited to dinner not as Wen
cooked regardless of the cost OF out
of-seasOn delicacies, as they are dc-
cusfomed tO-a fOotman, laundreSseS
and their assistants mere are
scores of houses in New York which
are manned by not less than a dozen
high-priced servants. and know OF
a good many where there cannot be
less than twenty persons waiting in
one way or another on a family OF
two or three.
"The cost of food is one OF the
least important items with which
man must deal in figuring on his ex-
nenditures. And the gas ana ice
bills never are taken into his cal
cuIations, as the poor man has to
consider them ut is what are re-
garded as necessities by him, though
accented as next to impossible lux
uries by most men, that really
trouble him.