Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-04

dinner the guests were seated thirteen
at each table and began their banquet
at thirteen minutes past seven. over
each guests chair as he sat down was
an open umbrella and the proceedings
were begun by the breaking Of mir
ror. The candles on the table were
set in miniature skulls and other gruc
some reminders were scattered about
in plenty. The Thirteen Club is proud
of the fact that it's members thus far
have been particularly successful in
defying ill luck, but the fact that a
fourishing organization can exist ON
so slight a foundation shows how
firmly the club and dinner fad has fix
ed its hold on the metropolis.
While large part of the country is
aeitated over the increased cost of
living, there is one class of citizens
who are not troubled by the question.
They are the immigrants arriving at
Ellis Island. who during their stay
there are fed at the expense of the
government. The bids for the con-
tract for feeding these incoming for
eigners during the coming year have
just been opened and indicate that
inexpensive in the country. Thirteen
bidders put in estimates for the con-
tract and the prices run from 20 cents
to 30 cents a day for each person, or
an average of from about seven to
Il certS q meal. The lowest bidder fig
urcd that he could supply breakfast
for five cents, dinner for nine cents,
and supper for six cents. The next low
est bid contained the same estimate
for breakfast, but figured two cents
more for dinner and one cent more
for supper. 1t is improbable, however,
that at present prices meat would be
Il leading dish on the menu even on
this cxtravaSant estimate. The con-
tract also includes the prices OF many
extras for which the immigrant pays
out of his own pocket if he wants them
and can afford to DO so, and it is nat
urally to such sales that the concrac-
tor looks chiefly for his profit even
though the figures for these are taken
into account in making the award.
one of the most curious discoveries
ever made by officers of charitable in.
situations and employment agencies
here has just been brought to light by
the compilation of figures which show
that among the indigent. height, far
from being an asset, is positive
handicap which odds to the difficulty
of obtaining work. Particularly this is
true IF men over so years of age, al
though it applies in lesser degree to
young men. Even a youthsul siX-fcot-
err it is pointed out, is more conspc-
uous for his shabbiness than smaller
man and therefore less likely to re-
ceive employment. But after the nalf
century mark is passed the handicap
of height is greatly increased. The rea
son for this queer state of affairs ais
explained by the head of large en-
ployment agency is found in the fact
that as soon as a man loses his erect
carriage every inch of his height hurts
him in the estimation of his employ
ers. Tie short old man never Stops So
much as the tall old man, never
slouches so much, and is never so
much in his own way. For this reason
his advantage over the tall old man
in getting job is marked So after all
the short man need not envy his taller
brother, unless for reasons of personal
vanity, for his would seem to be the
best chance.
LONGACRE.