The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-10-13
MAKING A GOAT OF THE TARIFF
Il 10 Increased Extravssanoe That has
Brought About the High
Cost Of Living.

Brought About the High
Cost Of Living.
Manchester, Ia, Press.
A good Republican said to us the
other day: "lf the Tariff is RESPONSE
BILE for the high cost of living, I am for
its reduction, and it can't come any too
quickly to'suit me-"
1t has become popular pastime to
make goat of the tariff. It is blamed
for all the ills of life, from the jump in
diamonds to an attack of the shingles.
Rnt other things may have something
to do with it. For instance:
Incidence and luxury have increased
in this country out of all proportion to
the incomes of the people. Twenty
years ago it was the rarest thing in the
world to find shoe-shining ''parlor"
outside of the largest cities. They are
now in every hamlet, and thousands of
men and boys do, nothing else. There
are probably not less than fifty in the
city of Des Moines, all doing a thriving
business. Men are too lazy or too proud
to shine their own shoes and have bred
new industry.
Nothing used to be thought of it If
man or woman was seen with bundle
going to or from the market. Now
everything must be delivered to the
house. 1t is almost impossible to per-
suade pert young chap or pretty
girl to to be seen on the streets with
package. Somebody else must do the
work, and father pays the freight.
The towns and cities are full of NOV
ing picture shows nickelodeons, vaude.
vile, 10, 30 and 80 cent theaters. Whole
families CO. night after night, and fol-
low it up with little supper that con-
sumes a days wages. The parks are
crowded and the street car takes it's toll.
Nobody thinks of walking for two
blocks nowadays if he is anywhere near
a car line. The old fashioned wife who
used to press her husbands and chill
drens clothes has gone out. Pantor-
iums have sprung up and taken her
place. The girl Of 1890 who would ex-
pect to wear silk stockings and petit
coats and the boy who demanded five
or six suits of clothes year would have
been considered crazy, but now they |
are as common as pinch bugs in June. |
Everything eatable must be dressed and |
trimmed up nowadays. People want
their crackers in pink box, with pic
ture of ballet dancer or pugilist on
the cover, and they not only pay for the
box when they buy the crackers but |
they get fewer crackers. The grocery
stores are filed with expensive novel.
ties and corrections. which 20 like hot
cakes. A few years ago oysters and
grapefruit and oranges out Of the sea.
son and cantelopes and ice cream were
luxuries. They are on every
table now every day. The young man
who doesn't take his girl 6O-cent box
Of candy done up in curl papers and a
pair Of tongs is tightwad. Father
buys porterhouse steak where q piece
off the neck used to look good to him.
Nobody thinks Of keeping his own horse
'r cow or planting his own garden or
ligging his own potatoes. The most
popular song Of the era is LET Some
,ody Else Do the Work" The automo.
,ile has cost its thousands where the
arif has cost Its tens. A man can't
'ide distance of fifty miles without
'atronizing the psrlor car. Nobody
kinks Of carrying lunch On the train
I there is dining car anywhere on the
livision. The man who wears the same
lecktie two days in succession Is called !
Rube and the woman who can't show
lp half dozen party dresses, costing
rom 40 to $50 per. has about as much
how in the society push as q shoar.
'eople used to have their shoes half
oiled. Now they wear them until the
loss is dimmed, then throw them into
he attic. The $50, electric vacuum
leaner has pushed the broom of the
nap, and the electric fan and ironer
ave put the palm leaf and tho sad.iron
ut Of business. Thus I'd in6nitum.
While your neighbor is cussing the
sriff for the high cost Of living. remind
i'm Of these things and ask him If Jim
ILLS definition, ''the cost of high liv.
n.y." isn't closer to it.. Nobodywants
o 20 back to the old ways. All of
hese things mean better, happier liv-
ng. more ease, more recreation, more {
sisure, better meals, more beautiful
ONES. But is it fair to shoulder onto
he tariff the blame for our own waste
ulness and indolence2
Bilious2 Feel heavy after dinner
'ongue coated9 Bitter faster Com.
lexicon sallow9 Liver needs waking
p Doan's Regulets cure bilious at
l. l.