The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-08-16
EVENING CHAT
BY RUTH CAMERON.

How much this or that cost-what
this one is earning, and how much that
one is making
Do you realize how large part, how
alarmingly large a part, these subjects
and similar ones make of our daily
conversations?
AS l sat alone at dinner in a restau-
rant the other evening, the talk of the
people at the table behind me came
unavoidably to me.
Occasionally an unfinancial remark
was made, but for the most part the
fragments that broke upon my ears
were something like this:
Did you know the Ms new limousine
cost every penny of SCOOP
That's nothing; Charley N is going
to have racer built especially for him,
and it's going to cost $780,
when his father allows him $40
just to run that car. I think it's alb
surd to think he can't do it on that"
But then, they say, it isn't the
gasoline or even the repairs that cost
SO much in running a motor, as it is
the entertainings of all kinds that
a-taking people motoring entails"
fancy it particularly. That trimming
looks awfully. expensive, but 1 saw
some in a window and priced it, and
it only cost about a dollar a yard
and they say he is making $4,000
year. You see, he went into business
for himself. That's the place for
brains, I think"
On the way to my home. in the
trolley 1 sat in front of two women
who were arguing as to whether it
or buy them ready-made. Each was
trying to prove her side of the ques-
ton by numerous price citations from
her own wardrobe.
I walked up the street with an old
| resident of the neighborhood, who had
come back to make a call. AS we
passed the house where my horsey
neighbor lives, Eyes, sir, he did-a
cool twenty thousand for that horse
the minute he went under the wire"
floated out to US.
We came to an open field near my
house. In the corner of it little
plaster bungalow has just been put up.
The old denizen regarded it with in
terest.
Yes I ran on in explanation. MIR.
G. put it up for his daughter. She
was married last fall. You don't
know? Yes, bank clerk in her faith
er's bank Artistic little place, isn't
seriousness, But what do you think it
cost? $4,000. Isn't that terrific for
| such a little placer"
! The old denizen of the neighborhood
passed on down a side street. He
| didn't look back. 1t was lucky that he
| didn't, for if he had he would have
| surely thoght me insane. For the con-
| seriousness of my own contribution to
| the chorus that had irritated me so all
| the evening, I was laughing aloud to
myself and saying.
| EFT tn, Ruthie."
| Perhaps you think I'm exaggerating
{, or fabricating bit
| I won't attempt to exonerate myself.
Instead. I'll just ask you to watch
your friends and your own CONVERSE
| ton for day or two for such refer
ences, and I'll be willing to let that
| test exonerate me
| Should one never talk of prices and
wages and costs and values?
| Yes, but never and perpetually are
1 a long ways apart, and between them
/ lies a golden mean.
/ It seems to me that the tendency to
measure success almost entirely by
/ financial standard is one of the worst
/ disease spots of our twentieth CEN
/ fury life-
/ Our perpetual talk of money is one
] of the symptoms of this disease
l I don't suppose you can cure