The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-04-09
GRAND DUKE, D}MrTRl
THE AMERICAN
AND HIS LUXURIES.

Editorial in Boston Globe: A few
days ago newspapers all over the
country noted the fact. contained in
a department of agriculture report
that the percapita consumption OF
sugar in the United States, which in
1875 had averaged only 46 pounds.
had risen in 1901-10. to more than
seventy-eight pounds.
They might have gone still further.
To use the ~percapita figure of eigh-
teen pounds Of 1865 might not, indeed.
be fair. for that was the end of war
time days and their strict economy.
But even a comparison Of the thirty
five pounds of 1869. high-water mark
then, with the eighty-two pounds Of
1912, would show what a little more
than a generation has done for one
American habit.
We Of the United States are as a
nation the greatest Sugar-eaterS OF
the globe. In 1897 we were consum-
ing 81 per cent of the worlds produc-
ton in sugar, and in 1912 we still
took % per cent of 1t, although it had
doubled in that time
Sugar is q habit with us. and We are
fond of our habits Thus the per cap
tia consumption of coffee rose from
six pounds in 1880 to more than ten
pOuIluS lOI III IdoI 0SS@OO ~ LSo III
increase was less, but still apprecia-
BILE. Man, and child, we get
away with q little more than a pound
a year apiece.
In the matter Of alcoholic beverages,
the temperance advocates may take
comfort in the thought that the per
capita consumption OF distilled spirits,
instead of from 2 to 2k gallons a
year, as before 1870, is now but about
1H gallons, and in 1896 and 1897 fell
as low as one gallon.
The consumption of wine, however,
is much greater than, 1t used to be,
and as for malt l~iquors-their per
capita figure, only 1.6 gallons in 1850
and &C. gallons In 1850, has steadily
mounted until 1t is now 20 gallons or
more > "'''. -
No similar figures car be given for
Tobacco, but the increase in the tobac-
co acreage and the value Of the grown
product, in the number of wage-earn-
ers in tobacco manufactures and the
value Of their products, and in the
customs receipts for tobacco, ali tell
the same story.
In 1912 no less than 4S per cent Of
u national revenue was derived
from alcoholic beverages and tobacco.
What is the point OF all these
figures? lust this: That what JAMES
J. Hill said about 1.-THE high cost of
living being really the cost Of high
living is in a large measure true.
"Give me the luxuries of life, and I
will do without the necessities" is
frequently cited as a clever epigram,
but it really typifies not badly the at
titude of the American people.
Look at the immigrant. He comes
here in many instances from a land
where meat Is reserved for the rich
and graces his own table only on fes-
tival occasions. His clothing, too, is
likely to be roughly made. for wear
rather than for show, just as was
the clothing of u Owl fathers.
But. as authorities have repeatedly
noted, the immigrants first act Is to
replace those substantial old-country
garments. with American" clothes.
the poorest because his slim purse
can afford no better, but outwardly
Of the cut and style Of other Ameri-
cans.
And, save where religious laws in
terfere or unless he is settled in a.
colony" where the old traditions
prevail with full force. it is not long
before his diet is completely revised,
and he, too, has meat every day.
There is certainly no reason why
this should not be. We are proud of
our American standards and resent
nothing nor strongly than the COM
petition of those who not only can
live but persist in living on lower
standards. Spend ais much as we do
and come in and be welcome, we say,
but try to cut down household ex-
penses at your peril.
But, having danced, we must pay
the fiddler. We eat better food than
u fathers, we warn our houses bet
ter. we wear more clothes. we are
much more particular about our
toilets and we have far greater vari-
ETY. OF food on our tables. House
hold economy. which was a burden.
liz in disrepute, and we prefer to shop
by telephone and have goods de-
livered. because there are so many.