The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-01-02

person who uses any one or all of the
three can easily figure for themselves.
A writer has roughly said: HE
who dances must pay the fiddler"
Another, having clothed his thought
in more elegant language, says: THAT
which you SOW, you shall also reap"
| We nave been catering to Injuries
until they have become necessities
gradually adding expense to u every
day living-gradually acquiring a
taste for modern things until we
are overburdened.
Very recently | conversed with a
mechanic who was complaining that
he could save nothing from his wages
at present because living expenses
are so high" Ten years ago he was
working for SIS per week, and now
he receives $22 per week. Then he
was required to work ten hours daily;
now he receives an increaccd salary
and works but eight hours each day.
Ten years ago he had only himself
and wife to provide for. Now the
home has been blessed with two chill
dren. Then they lived in a very ordi-
mary ~three-rOom cottage and their
furniture would not have invoiced for
more than $50. Then they had no
telephone, no electric current. They
used kerosene lamps and soft coal
for fuel, both cooking and heating.
Then the wife did not go into society,
nor did the husband belong to the
commercial club, nor smoke ten-cent
cigars. There were many small lux
uries which they deprived themselves
of, because they felt they could not
afford them.
Conditions have changed their mode
of living, however. They now have
two little ones-two o mouths to
feed. The clothes for the children
cost more than the mother spent upon
her garments ten years ago. The
mother goes in the best of society and
in consequence her wardrobe has
! quadrupled in cost. In order to main
tain a standing in society the husband
and father is a member of the COM
mercial club and enjoys his ten-cent
cigars, and dresses in fashion. They
now reside in a modern home and
give parties to their friends. They
have the telephone, electric lights,
electric washer, electric flatiron, an
expensive range and burn hard coal
and use gasoline for cooking.
All these have been added to the ex-
pense of living, on an increase of
only 81 per week in wages. Is it any
wonder they are unable to LAY by in
store" any amount earned by the hus-
band and father?
While those affected by present con-
ditions may, in their own minds, real
ize to some extent that they are re-
sponsible for those conditions, we sell
dom hear it mentioned. The whole
stress seems to rest upon increased
cost of living" Prices are so high"
Did it ever occur to you that there
Is a reason of a slight advancement in
the price of commodities used in the
home? The present mode of living
has increased the demand for those
~,n-1-l,A.~ ~. - 1900
of the mechanic and the general
laborer has made it possible for the
wage Garner to purchase more of the
products of the soil and the producer
because of the demand has been able
to obtain a better price for the same.
Since the telephone has become gen.
orally used in the home and business
house, instead of going to the store
and ordering a quantity of goods, If
Mrs. -- needs a spool of thread
or three yards of muslin she phones
to the merchant and he sends his de-
livery team from six to ten blocks to
deliver perhaps from sc to 36c worth
Of goods. The merchant must add a
certain percent to the price of his
goods of all kinds to meet the ex-
pense of the delivery of goods, or lose
money. Which will he do? The mer-
chant OF today knows that unless he
has a telephone in his store and de-
livers the most trivial articles he can
not long remain in business, so he
adds a small percent TO every class of
goods and the patron pays the extra
expense of delivery. Is this the fault
of the merchant?