The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-06-23
whole. the great convention now in
session in Chicago seems to the Cedar
Rapids editor to be strong in men who
deal in specialties, but not strong in
thoroughly seasoned statesmen.
WHY LIVING COMES HIGH.

1t costs more to live because the
mass Of the people live better and
think they really must have many
things in order to be comfortable
which they could do without, If they
had to, without feeling privation.
This is the explanation advanced by a
writer in the New York Journal Of
Commerce who discusses the subject
at some length in broad and impair
tial way. He maintains that the i'm
proved standard of living is desirable
thing and pinching economy is not
commendable when it is not neces-
sary, though always maintaining a mar
gin of earning above spending Is al
ways pratseworthy as we'll as prudent
But there is a great deal of extrav-
agance and luxury which Is wickedly
wasteful. as he thus points out:
st uses up the materials, the sub
stance that goes to the sustenance and
comfort of people, and tends to create
inequality in the distribution of the
fruits of labor If half of that which
Is squandered in lavish and unwhole-
some living were left in the general
supply instead of being Unfortunately
consumed by the self-indulgent few, it
would make substantial difference in
the price OF things Not only is much
more devoured or used up than Is
wholesome for mankind, but a vast
deal Is thrown away in sheer waste.
The expensive hotels and restaurants
and the lordly mansions where ban
Iquets are given use up an immense
share of the choicest products and
materials to the depletion of the stock
upon which those of modest means or
small income must depend"
There is a fallacious idea of econ
omic advantage in luxury and extray-
agance because 1t makes work and
gives employment to many. The writ
er comedies that there is no occasion
to decry that which gratifies taste
and contributes to refinement or ele-
gance of living, but declares that
there Is much that is sheer super
fluffy, which turns much material and
labor TO no use but the qualification
of gross appetite or vulgar display.
The labor employed in pandering to
/ this kind of demand is worse than
thrown away and If bestowed upon
other lines of production would in
crease the supply and lower the cost
of that which ministers to comfort.
The greediness and selfishness Of
those who have more than enough,
| who do not mind what things cost or
thow much they pay for, are depriv-
ing multitude of others of what they
are better entitled to, because their
| extravaganza takes all the best, de.
/ pletes the stock and makes the In.
ferior high priced
Attention is called to the fact that
the cost of high living, the lavish US
ing up of the products OF labor by
those who can afford it is one of the
causes of the high cost of living fol
those of small means. Another Incl
/ dent of the improved standard of liv
ing is that too little attention Is giver
to making a little go far. Our people
do not economic in the true sense O!
the word by making the most of whar
they have. The common people Of
France have reputation for thrift
and economy, acquired by careful
and prudent habit of wasting NOTHING
and applying skill to making the bes
Iof their material. This is not mean
ness or penuriousness, unless car
RED to an extreme which the means o
the person does not Justify. It is get
ing comfort and ease out Of a little h,
making much of it. Most people whc
have no superfluous income get much
less out of what they have than the,
might by giving thought and takin,
pains. There is more to divide thar
ever before and the individual share.
are greater, though distributed witt
more inequality. Living costs more
: the writer concludes, because people
insist upon living better, which is no
to be deprecated within the limits o
moderation. II is the exceea ~