Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-26
of emaciated bodies unable to with.

stand the rigors of war.
Rome, Genoa, Milan and Venice ara
not likely to be affected to an apprecia-
BILE degree. as long as the Tyrolean
mountains continue to bar Austria's
passage southwark. The farmers are
undisturbed in their fields: the sturdy
Italian women take the places left va
cant by their warriors, and life goes on
as serenely as can be expected In a
country at war.
In fact, it is difficult to understand
why the cost of food should have adj
ranced even 10 per cent, and after a
close study OF the situation, one is led
to believe that the increase is inflated
and unnatural-a sort of sympathetic
response to the hardships of her neigh.
bors.
Today one may obtain an excellent
meal any place in Italy for about 50
cents.
The cost of food in Russia had in.
creased 20 per cent as late as July last.
With the German Austrian drive into
her territory values undoubtedly Will
be affected: but by how much IT will
be difficult to determine for some time.
The greatest difficulty confronting
Russia today is the feeding of her pea
santry. The soldiers fare well enough.
but the impoverished natives in the
outlying districts are suffering beyond
our conception.
A group of Russian prisoners in AUS
tria were questioned as to their com.
missary department. They were free
and unreserved in their praise.
sour army is well fed" they asserted.
But we cannot help thinking of our
poor families Even before the war. we
suffered for the necessities. Meat was
a luxury enjoyed only once each week.
Our vegetables were scarce and stunt
ed. And now. with only women TO TIL
our soil, and the government calling
for more and more produce for the SOL
diers, it is difficult to understand how
our people can escape starvation"
Petrograd always has been known
for its high cost of living, and today.
with the added war cost. one finds
even the table necessities quoted about
so per cent higher than the prices
charged in New York city. However. the
Russians are treating the situation
sensibly, and. instead of complaining.
are curtailing their purchases and eS-
erting every effort to encourage the
farmers to produce capacity crops.
In many sections of the country the
newspapers have offered prizes for
bumper yields from stipulated acreage,
and the harvest this season, like the
harvest in Austria Hungary, promises
to be the most bountiful in genera
ton.
land, and the contrast is quite as i'm
pressive. In a word. England is un-
changed. The average English break
fast of today is as good as the aver
age dinner in any other country at war
The Englishman has much for which
to be thankful. He suffers the annoy
ance of an air raid occasionally, and
several times the German fleet has
visited his shores for a few minutes:
but, aside from that. he experiences
few of the hardships of war
One who has just made the journey
from Petrograd to London. via Berlin.
Vienna, Bern and Paris. Is astounded
by the enormous prosperity evidenced
on every hand in the English capital.
Entire fronts of stores are blocked by
great slabs Of fresh meat: vegetables
of every description are stack d or
barreled behind counters: sea FOOD can
be had almost for the asking: and
fruit, JUICY. wholesome fruit. can be
obtained for a song.
On every hand people are well fed
and we'll clothed. No evidences OF ac-
tual poverty can be, detected. even IN
the slums of the cities. London. Liver
pool, Manchester-all one continuous
round of pleasurable enjoyment OF the
good things of life.
While gazing at the appetizing dis
play of food the travellers mind uncon-
sciously hanks back to the miser-
able, starving peasants on the tundra
stretches Of Russia: the hollow-cheek-
ed. hungry women and children in the
Mariahilf district of Vienna: and. APP
preaching much nearer. the empty mar
ket stalls in Paris. He conjures visions
of how those unfortunates would be-
have if suddenly confronted with an
opportunity to partake of Englands
good things. The thought is not pleas
ant for one helpless to remedy existing
conditions.
A pleasing dinner of FIVE courses may
be had in London for two shillings. ana
il one cares to dine in less preten-
tious restaurant he can procure the
same food for one shilling.
why should we worry about the u
boats?" the Londoner will ask YOU
They have not hurt u.s. Hasn't the ad-
miralty informed us that for every YES
sci sunk two new ones are laid down
in the shipyards? Look at our restau-
rants: look at our markets: look at our
people; do we appear to need any
thing"
There is only one answer. Gastron-
omically speaking, England needs moth
ing. Her prices are the same as before
the war; her food supply is normal; her
people are optimistic; she need not
worry, unless-and the rest is conJec-
ture.