The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-01-31

Reason Why.
on street car the other day q
Pensacola man said: This is funny
town. Fer several years. now. we've
been playing in hard luck and YET
everybody seems to be getting along
rnuch the same as usual. It's funny
But everybody seems 10 be doing the
usual things. Most OF AS have enough
to wear and enough to eat; the movies
are always patronized, the shows play
to good audiences. the school children
look clean and happy and comforta-
bic. Funny old town. Hard times
don't seem to make much difference.
Here is the way a prize winner In
the contest What Our Country VIII
Gain Through The War sizes up the
present situation In this country:
Average Bill Smith. Made in u. S.
A., In the early part OF 1s14 pulled
down thirty week for about six
hours day genteel work. With this
thirty he and Missus Average are
buying lot out In Easyhurst and a
bungalow in Stylish Terrace.
"of course, they just had to have
car, and they bought little Sec
ond hand roadster that costs, each
month. including repairs, thirty of
real money; but of course that is
almost as cheap as street cars. and
think how much more convenient Is
splendid saive for the conscience In
flush times.
"Of course an auto owner can't
smoke anything less than ten-cent
cigars. and Average Bin absolutely
requires q good beefsteak every day,
and that accounts for $500 every week
Of the fifty-two, while the fact that
Bill works in a bank absolutely pre-
cludes the possibility of his wlfe's
washing the dishes or doing the cook
ing. The cook cost 81 and eats IS
more, so she depletes the Smith treas
ury $ss more every thirty days.
War comesl Money is tight! No
more easy loans. Unimproved real
estate Is not eagerly sought for by
banks as collateral, and Bill gets a
letter from the Boss saying. The Di-
rectors have ordered a twenty per cent
reduction in salaries Now Bin has
got to retrench.
Mrs. Bill gets out her kitchen
apron and prepares meals that take
the tired look from Bills face. and
the whole family soon forget what
Indigestion feels like Little Sister
learns herself, and no one looks
askance. for everyone else is in the
same boat.
Soon Bill finds that street cars run
regularly and are most convenient.
The saving lust is started. Bill and
his three quarters find that by let
ting slide this little luxury and that
little trifle, they can add another ten
dollars every month to the savings
department balance
THE Impossible has happened.
Bill Smith, the Average American,
has found that there's more joy in
living within his income than there
ever was in splurging. and this is the
greatest gain that our country can
have from the war"
Now this comes pretty near to an
swering the question as to why PEN
sacola folks seem to get along pretty
much the same as they used to. Men
who used to have cars, haven't got
any. Lots OF people who used to have
porter house eat pot roasts." The
front seats at the theatre aren't al
ways taken, but those in the middle
are. Lots of Pensacola men are just
as comfortable in last winters over
coat as they would be in new one.
Lots of Pensacola women are wear
ing last years gowns to parties and
not mindlng it at all, because it is
the fashion.
The habit OF frugality does not al
ways mean misery and tears, by any
means. Pensacola people act pretty
much the same as they used to be-
cause pot roast is just as nourisaing
as porterhouse, anyhow. and last
years clothes Just as pretty and just
as comfortable as the latest thing in
Paris fashions