The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1910-02-09
FE eRUARY 9, 1910
THE INCREASE IN COST OF LIVING
The Cost Of Living in Cities as Compared
With Ten Years Ago.

OF the vendor Of jewels, clasping roll
of $500, 600 in her tendril-like hands
and looking sadly at the diamond neck
laccs there displayed with tags on de-
noting that the price has risen by fifty
per cent says a writer in the Philadel-
phia lnqlrer.
1t used to be Haunted before one of
the Governors Of Ohio that when he
kept little store in war time he ex-
acted larger prices as he cheerfully re-
marked "Calico has riz.
Bingham has "riz," silk and satin
and fur have "riz"=-eveything is on
the up grade. The luxures which have
become the barest necessities may even
at this moment be beyond the reach Of
those accustomed to them, because of
rapid advances in the cost Of flour.
Savory cabbage and noodles and such
other things as are the daily iood of
those who are nearer the base OF the
industrial pyramid, necklaces, tiars,
ehauliers, country houses-all cost
more, and the cost will continue to adj
vance unless the rates for beet and
grain come down.
The wants of all classes have increas-
ed, especially those Of the wealthy. The
wealthy wear purple and fine linen and
serge and melton, Tor which they pay
higher prices than they did, and at the
same time modistes and the tailors
who sew them demand and receive in
creased wages.
1t was a plant that wrung the hearts
OF all only recently, when it was ex-
planned by young woman who was
absent from the Horse Show that ow-
ing to disturbed conditions her allow
ance had been cut from 100000 to
$4,000 year, and had thus brought
about conditions which were almost
ntolerable, considering the increased
cost of living.
1t is arduous enough in these expen.
sive days = --,n III live, but the de.
mands OF womankind are truly appall-
ing and give even those Of plethoric
bank accounts many bad quarter OF
an hour
Man, even though his ways be or.
dered in the paths of luxury, can NEE,
all conventions by wearing two or three
suits day No so his wife, the wo
man OF fashion. She may have to he
arrayed for a musical morning, ma,
have to go after luncheon for drive in
the park, returning after five o'clock tea
At one of the fashionable restaurants.
where she is especially gowned, when
she is again dressed Tor the nights en-
tertainment at theatre, opera or social
junction. Her morning array, from
hat to shoes, costs her at least $500,
her afternoon attire at least $1,000, en-
elusive OF turs, and her night attire all
the way up to $4,000, of which her
opera cloak is perhaps the largest item
Of expense. 1t is possible that she
wears pearl necklace costing any
where from 100000 to $aas,ooo to
say nothing of tiaras, bracelets, chains,
pins and hair ornaments in diamonds
and other precious stones that cost a
fortune.
This very woman when she was
married ten or twelve years ago thought
Ssoo was a large price for gown and
that ii was sin to pay more than $ss
for hat. To-day she had hundred
hats year that cost on an average OF
SIIo each. When she was a bride
her annual bills for clothes may have
been $1,000 or $4,000. To-day her ex-
penses run from 100000 to 100000,
according to her social status.
When the head of the house eats,
however simply, 1t costs several times
its former price. The fruit before him
is now grown generally under glass,
much of it kept wrapped in cotton bat.
ting while growing to prevent contac,
with dust His meats are all selected
by the severest processes from the best
and latest of hoofed beasts and care
FULLY reared poultry. His crockery
bills have doubled, requiring consider
able replacement and costly additions
annually to keep up with the times.
He is paying his servants nearly double
the wages they got ten years ago, as
all expect am annual increase and valu-
able Christmas gifts. Their clothes
must also be maintained to equal his
station, and these, like his own attire
have been steadily advancing in price
From S. to s. quart has been add.
ed to the vintage champagnes he must
keep in stock. Most Of all, his cigar
bill has gone up with leaps and bounds.
A few years ago the dollar cigar was
considered luxury even for potentates.
To-day the cheapest cigar he has in
the house for ordinary smoking costs
him about eighty cents box, with
after dinner cigars at $a.so each, and
cigars at IS each when guests are
present. The tobacco purveyor OF to-
day understands he must be able to
prove where the leaf and the filler were