The independent-reporter., 1910-11-24

thought IS safety razor the proper
thing for his son.
The father had favorite cat but l
do not think 1t had anything to eat
except the leayings Of the table, and
milk. The son has q cat of which he
is very fond but which. has developed
an appetite for boiled fresh cod, and
It's qualification costs as much as the
missionary pamphlets say 1t costs to
support heathen girl.
The father had no vacation expenses
to meet, for vacations we're unknown
except as a man of family went on
a blueberry or fishing trip. The son
and his family do not travel much
but the cost of owning cottage and
when they do go from home must av-
erage nearly 500 year.
The father owned a fur coat be-
cause his profession demanded 1t:
otherwise he would not have had one
The son had a good cloth overcoat
but thought fur lined one would be
more comfortable so he bought one
and only regretted that he had not
done so before.
The father did not think 1t beneath
him to wear a coat which his wife had
turned, for other men did, but IL the
son should do 80 his creditors would
be looking him up and SO his clothes
are given away when they show much
signs of wear.
The fathers shirts were made by
his wife who also did them up" The
son must have his custom made and
his laundry bill Is quite an item. The
sons yearly bill for collars, cuffs, ties
hose, ETC., would have made his father
think twice.
The fathers profession coInpel lied
him to keep a horse. The son keeps
one for pleasure and instead of being
satisfied with one carriage as the
father was, he has three of various
kinds which demand more harness
than the father had.
A Websters unabridged dictionary
supplied the needs of the fathers fam
lily year after year regardless of re-
visions, but the son must have a
Webster's dictionary, Century die
tionary and cyclopedia and numerous
other books of reference, not to men,
ton miscellaneous books and maga-
zines far in excess of what the father
had.
In addition to what | have mention
ed are increased taxes caused by the
demand for better roads, better fire
protection, better schools, sewers, etc
Many of the items that have
enumerated In my comparison are the
result of the higher standard of liv-
ing to which | alluded in the begin
hnp
and the son could but does not care
to- in fact many of the luxuries OF
35 years ago have become necessities.
Leaving the father and son, can
mention numerous items that increase
the cost of living today over what 1t
was or course the automobile Is an
important one with many people but
there are smaller things that go to
make the aggregate large, things
bought by people with only average
incomes The advertising pages of
the magazines contain many of these
talking machines,
safety razors, fine confectionery, fine
toilet preparations, and scores of
things that have large sales today but
were unknown a few years ago, or had
limited sale.
And there are small items that can
be mentioned such as tickets to the
moving picture shows, post cards,
which with the necessary postage ag-
gregate many thousands of dollars
yearly, daily papers, ETC., etc.
All these things take our money.
How many of them are actual neces-
stiles | will let my readers decide.
L. P. EVANS, in Piscataquis Observer.