The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-03-03

so much? Why? Why? Why all this high cost of living?"
 And her query is echoed by women all over this broad land, not old women either. who can tell us about the time when eggs were 10 cents a dozen and flyers" were 20 cents apiece, and "broil- ers' high at 15 cents, but the young housekeepers who few years ago had none of this sort of thing to contend with and can see no possible reason why, when the market is full of everything anybody wants to eat, that prices should take such an upward flight.
 "Why, my husband used to allow me SIP week for my family of six" said a clever, economical housewife recently, in a discussion of this question, and we lived very comfortably. Now I couldn't feed three people with that amount"
 It's no worse than the price of wear ing apparel said another. My chill dren's stockings cost me more now than almost anything I buy for them, and these self same stockings one buys which cost exactly half as much again as they used to, wear miserably, and its no un- common sight to see my youngsters out at the heels and toes and looking as if their mother paid no attention to them whatever. Shoes are the same way; they have advanced in price and are not whit better than they used to be. A silk petticoat that I would treat myself to on Christmas used to wear until the next Christmas while nowadays they cost more and wear worse than ever before. And as for silk waists-why, only mil lionaires' wives can afford them. Gloves which used to be $1 now sell for S1.50, and are no better while I was only say Ing the other day, when I went down to purchase embroideries and thin goods for my children's spring clothes, that the goods are very inferior and cost double what they used to-.
 As I listened to the discussion of these two experienced women, felt that was getting very little encouragement, for my story of Flow Two People Can Live we finished one of them turned and said:
 Why, my laundress, who has been washing for me for years, came home with one of my best nighties few days ago, and, laying 1t before me. almost in ribbons. she said:
 i" Resigns my Job right herer
 Whats the trouble Mandy? asked.
 ".Dese goods which you buys ain't no count and, besides, has to pay so much for soap to wash dem fine things wid dat I don't make nothin' tall at wash in. an so rse decided to be chamber maid at de hotel whar I won't be wor- ried bout tearin' de white folks clothes an havin' to sib up all my money at de end of de week for things dat I has tore. If de goods was lak do use toN be den wouldn't mind so much"
 And so I suppose women will go on wondering why prices have advanced at least 30 per cent within the last five years. and pondering upon how they are going to manage on a limited income to provide for table and clothing. while the law makers sit serenely back saying that they can't solve the problem either.
 Most women have hazy idea that the tariff has something to do with her household misgivings. but yet when she stops to consider that the much abused tariff has nothing whatever to do with the amiable and unsuspecting hen. and that the simple-minded. hig-hearted Jersey COW is indigenous to the soil. and that cotton goods are not imported, neither has butter ever heard of a personally conducted" tour across the big pond. she naturally keeps on wondering at the in- creased cost of living!
 Being a dutiful wife. she naturally goes to her husband to be informed about such things, and after muttering some thing vague about supply and demand" and, besides whatever happens he can- not possibly give her over S1b week. for that's all he makes, and she gets ev- cry cent of 1t. he calmly opens the morn ing paper and gleans the latest soma toriai news and learns what Capt Frank S. White, Mir. John Knox and Senator Bankhead have to say about each other. Will Be Received By Dias Msxico City. March 2--Henry Lane Will son will be officially received as am