Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-28

ishing breakfast foods as well as one
of the cheapest. Many people spurn
it and buy roasted corn fakes or some
other patent breakfast food at from
three to ten times the cost of corn
meal, because they are put up IN ap-
petizing form in pasteboard box, sup
posed to be insect-proof. Several
dealers, several railways, and large,
overcapitalized concern must be paid
for the convenience.
Increased Delight Adds Expense.
AS one more example of different
kind, take automobiles. 1t is estimated
that 16O, 900 cars will be constructed
in 1910, involving an outlay OF over
S175, 600, 900 and a working army OF
many thousand men. To certain ex-
tent these cars will be used in COM
mercial way to satisfy business needs.
However, they probably will not give
a strictly economic return on over 10
per cent of the investment. All the
rest is devoted to the increased de-
light of living They may add to their
health If their users keep on the upper
side of the machine. This is a great
economic expenditure to satisfy new
desire, but it gives little economic re-
turn.
Again, the telephone becomes a
necessity. We save time and energy
by it's use. This is an economic saw
ing. It simply brings business and in
creases economic production. Yet 1t
must be paid for by the user and
means an increased expense. If he
can turn the time and energy saved
into money it is a good thing. But he
must have an increased income to pay
the bill.
Instan ces might be multiplied show
ing how many things we now have to
enjoy that formerly we did not have.
We have a better life, but it costs
more. There are important points to
be observed from these examples.
Armies of men must have wages, great
corporations with millions of capital
which must have interest, and thous-
ands of promoters and managers who
must have profits, are paid to provide
the greater enjoyment to satisfy in
creasing desires for a better life.
Bankers, lawyers. traders, physicians,
teachers, miners. preachers, business
transporters, manufacture
ers. etc. compose an ever-increasing
number to be fed and clothed by the
products of the soil Unless there is a
proportionate increase in agricultural
products, the latter are high. There
has not been, therefore prices of agri-
cultural products are at present higher
relatively than prices of other COM
modities.
Another thing to be noticed is that
the improved standard of living de-
mands a continually increased outlay
and a continually increasing income
if the individual lives a normal life.
1t is impossible to satisfy all of the
economic desires arising from this
active, expanding, modern life. But
certain of them must be satisfied in
order that the individual shall have a
normal, progressive life-the chief
aim of our civilization. To do this, in
come should keep pace with the cost
of living according to an ordinary
standard of life. Granted that a per-
son can live no better today on $1,000
per annum than 10 years ago on $500,
he must have over $1,000 now if he
have any benefit of the increased
standard of living-if his expanding
desires receive any return.
Kew Life Costs More Than Old.
Truly, this life costs more than the
old life because we have the benefits
of the achievements of the arts and
sciences, of education and business
of invention and dis
covery Suppose we say to a man,
Live more simply and it will cost
you less; give up the books, maya
zines. newspapers, that you formerly
did not have; take your children out
Of school and give them three months
as formerly; exclude the
musical instruments from the home;
do not help pay the increased ex-
Dense OF church and charitable insti-
cut out the telephone, avoid
the electric car, deny the nickel show
and other forms of amusement; re-
fuse to profit by modern medical and
dental skill: buy last years clothing
for your wife and children; cut out
gas and electric lights; buy or make
4 tallow dip and then go to bed early
% save light Danish bananas, or
anges and olives from the table; dis
)ense with a hundred things you for
nerly did not enjoy, and you will in
/ measure reduce the cost of living.
You will pay less for poorer article |
,alled life"
There is something to be said in |
another article on Economy of Liv-
ng"