The Washington times., 1911-05-05

ANI new tenement and lucky
w in securing the top floor.
This gave us easy access to
the fiat roof five stories above the
street. From here we not only had a
magnificent view of the harbor. but even
on the hottest days felt something of a
sea breeze.
Coming down here in June we appre-
ciated that before the summer was
over.
The street was located half a dozen
blocks from the water front and was
inhabited almost wholly by Italians,
save for Frenchman on the corner
who ran bake shop. The street itself
was narrow and dirty enough, but it
Opeend into public square which was
decidedly picturesque.
This was surrounded by tiny shops
and foreign banks. and was always
alive with color and incident. The vege-
tables displayed on the sidewalk stands.
the gay hues of the women gowns, the
gaudy kerchiefs of the men, gave II a
Kaleidoscope, effect that made it as fas-
cinating to US as trip abroad The
section was known as Little Italy, and
so far is we were concerned was as
interesting as Italy itself.
There were four other families in the
house, but the only things we used in
leading upstairs and the roof. The other
tenants, however, seldom used the lat
ter at all except to hang out their
occasional washings.
For the first month or SO We saw
little of these people We were far too
busy to make overtures. and as for
them they left us severely alone. They
were not noisy, and except for a sick
baby on the first floor we heard little
of them above the clamor of the street
below.
We had four rooms. The front room
we gave to the boy the next room we
ourselves occupied, the third room we
used for a sitting and dining room,
while the fourth was A small kitchen
with running water.
As compared with our house the quar-
tiers at first seemed cramped, but we
had cut down our furniture TO what was
absolutely essential. and as soon as
oar eyes ceased making the comparison
we were surprised to find how COM
Portable we were.
In the dining room, for instance, we
had nothing but three chairs, folding
table and a closet for the dishes
Lounging chairs and so forth We did
away with altogether. Nor was there
sible guests. Here throughout the whole
Mouse was the greatest saving. ! took
a fierce pleasure at first in thus caring
for my own alone.
The boys room contained cot,
chair, a rug, and a few of his personal
treasures; our own room contained just
the bed, chair. and washstand. Ruth
added few touches with pictures and
odds and ends that took off the bare
aspect without cluttering up. In two
weeks these scant quarters were every
whit as much home as our tidy little
house had been. That was Ruths part
in II. Shed make a home out of
prison.
on the second day we were fairly set
tied, and that night after the boy had
gone to bed Ruth sat down at my side
IL 1 Wnnfl ~ L. L.,
Billy" she said. there's one thing
we're going to do in this new beginning:
we're going 10 save-if it's only 10 cents
q week
1 shook my head doubtfulIy.
I'm afraid you can't until. I get a
raise said
I'VE tried waiting for raises BEFORE"
she answered.
ct know, but
There aren't going to be any butts"
she answered. decidedly.
But s6 a week.
us IS a week. she broke in. We
must live on $3.50, that all
with steak 80 cents pound?"
I'VE won't have steak. That's the
point. Our neighbors around here don't
look starved, and they have larger fami-
lies than ours. And they don't even
How do YOU know that?"
i've been watching them at the
little stores in the square They pay
there as much for. half-decayed stuff
as they'd have to pay for fresh odds
and ends at the big market
She rested her pad upon her knee.
Now in the first place. Billy. were
going to live much more simply.
We've never been eXtravagant /
said.
Not in way" she answered. slowly.
but In another way We have. I've
heen doing a lo' of thinking in the last
few DAYS. and I see now where we've
things
Not for the last few weeks. anyhow,
"Those don't count But before that
mean. For instance there's coffee
It's a luxury. WHY we snent almost W
cents a week on that alone.
''I know but
There's another but. There's no
nourishment in coffee ard We can't af-.
ford II. Wen snend that money for
milk. We must have GOOD milk and
YOU must get it for me somewhere m
town. I don't l'ke the looks of the milk
around here. That will be S cents
day
iBetter have two quarts" l suggested,
She thought a moment.
Yes she agreed. two quarts; be
cause that's going to be the basis OF
our food. That's SLIP week.
She made ND a little face at this.
smiled grandly.
Now for breakfast we must have oat-
meal every morning. And wen get II
in bulk. I've priced ii and it's only p
little over 2 cents pound at some or
the stores
And the kind we've always had?"
About II, when it's done up in pack
ages That's about the proportion by
which 7 expect to cut down everything.
Rut you'll have TO eat milk on II instead