The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-08-28
High Cost Of Living at the
Present Time Remind the
Southerners Of High Prices
in Civil War.
POSTAL EXPERIMENT
PROVES SUCCESSFUL
Placing Fourth Class Post
masters Under Civil Service
Rules Good Move-Gossip
From Capital.
~ aopgR,ck CLIFFORD.

~ aoogRlck CLIFFORD.
washington. Aug. 27.-"No one can
seriously dispute the fact that the cost
OF living advanced materially with the
passage of the Aldrich-Payns tariff
law" said Representative Harry L.
Maynard. Of Virginia. In discussing
the minority report OF the Senate COM
mittss which Investigated the question
Of high cost Of living.
1T IL the price OF food products
that has made itself felt more than
anything else" continued the Virginia
statesman. "You will note this fact
on the bill Of fare In most Of the lead
ing hotels and cafes: nearly every ar.
ticls on the list has been advanced
Is to 20 percent from what 1t was
formerly.
"Prices Of today, however. are not
10 keeping with what the people paid
In the South during the war. am
reminded Of this BY an old bill OF fare
OF the Oriental restaurant Of Rich.
mond. Va. which enjoyed IN excellent
patronage.
Money Was Scarce.
The prices quoted prevailed In the
sarly part Of 1854. and at that time
money In the south was not over plen-
tiful. Here 10 what the patrons OF the
Oriental had TO pay for ordinary
dishes: Soup. $50 per plate: turkey.
$3.50 an order: chicken the same.
Rock fish was . delicacy. Il cost @5,
and hame and eggs cost $3.50 and Il
was not Smithfield ham either. Boiled
eggs cost e. while fried oysters were
IS an order. You were taxed $3.50 for
dozen oysters ON the half shell. The
cheapest things on the bill OF fare
we're cabbage and potatoes. They
we're 81 an order. Pure coffee per
cup cost %. while tea was but -. the
same was asked for milk per glass.
In those days the bread and but
Ter was extra at $50 per order. But
Il you had . thirst appetite and want.
cd to gratify Il you had to have .
small bank roll. Champagne and
Madeira cost you $50 per bottle: Port
and Sherry was worth SIS per bottle.
while Claret could be had for $50.
Porter and ale sold for $13 per bottle.
by the drink French brandy cost $3.
Whisky or apple brandy was 81 .
drink. The cheapest cigar Havana,
vas 81.
But don't you know our people did
not complain very much about these
high prices. for the reason 1t would
have done no good.
Proved Good Move.
''The experience Of placing fourth
elass postmasters under civil service
rules. now entering upon the second
year." said an official Of the post Of
ice department" has proved success
hui In many respects. II would be no
surprise should the president further
sxtend the order. We have many ex-
periences with fourth class post mast
srs. and some Of them are OF such q
character that you might doubt any
man would be guilty Of them.
II recall an instance that happened
= few years ago In . Southern town
hat would make . clever subject for
he vaudeville stage. In . certain
own mail came With the regularity
hat gave evidence Of the efficiency
IN the part Of the postmaster. The
record Of the office was good. but
sne day the postmaster died. His sue
sessor was appointed. ! will call the