Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-06-11
FEEDS HIS FAMILY
ON 10 CENTS A day
Remarkable Statements of Ex-
penses Are Made by Resi-
dents of Japan.
REAL "STRUGGLE FOR LIFE"
Rice, With Picked Seaweed as
Flavoring. Practically Only
Food Of Teacher.
REAL "sTRUGGLE FOR LIFE"


Food Of Teacher. ii
ny HUGH BYAS.
TOKYO. June lo.--The real "strurple
for life" exists in tho Orient. How
would you like to live, rear family
of young soldiers for the Emperor and
maintain a respectable appearance and
proper standard of family pride on
$3.50 month? 1t can be done-not
easily. but 1t is done-and the men who
do il are OF the patriotic middle class
OF Japan.
transcribe here some family, budgets
OF Japanese households. None,ot them
are OF the laboring class, thought tho
lowest--that OF a school-teacher-is
based on an income about equal To
that OF the average skilled artisan.
policeman or street-car conductor. The
best is that of doctor, who lives In
his own house-a fine. big. pretentious
structure. l-
The figures are from a book called
How TO Live Cheaply," which has had
an enormous sale in Japan.
II is largely q treatise on dietetics
OF the kind that would interest man
whose appetite is greater than his in -
mcnts on the growing iercencss Of the
struggle for life. which is making It Z
difficult for the middle class to keep
up standard of moderate comfort. plus
the necessary appearance. &
The first budget is that of the school
teacher Here is his monthly account:
kent 90 zl
ROOD 6. IS
Light and fuel. ..............., 100 s.
Slothes LIS
Taxes and subscriptions. ...... 1.20
hducation '''....'.......... 80 -;
Tobacco, newspapers, etc. 80, tsah
total. .Sl6 .a01s
Since his total wage from the gov
eminent school is only $3.50 a month.
his wife has to take in home work
TO make up the balance. The family
numbers four--father, mother and two
children. ~
RICE AND SEAwEED
THEIR REGULAR LUNCH
In the food bill 1915 is for rice The
mother makes 7is cents a day do for.
/ fish and vegetables. but confesses that
she can't always succeed. The lunch
which father and son take to school
with them every day consists of,
.
that the hoy is nicknamed "Seaweed"
The supper is almost invariably a slice
, of dried salmon-Eood but monotonous8
When the budget was compiled another
baby was unfortunately" expected, and
the father nothing for it but to
give up smoking. 4
The next budget is a literary mans:
Nc"t '''.'''.'... .......'......S 100
J. pou ia. 90
Gas and electricity. 175s
servants wages. Observation-Disclosures, so
Household sundres. $50
Masters sundries. ....... 500
iotti. S32 la
Masters sundries include occasional
visits to the theater. OF the food bill,
81 goes for rice and SO for milk. The
household consists of husband and wife
two children and Il maid. The husband
edits magazine. The master likes
meat. and if he goes three days with
out. he grumbles and goes off to some
cheap restaurant His income varies,
but is below his expenditure. In three
years of married life ne has borrowed
Sl2" and half OF the wife's trousseau
has been pawned. ~
Next comes minor government
, "''ctai Win IamlIE or three adults
and four children to keep on u monthly
salary OF $3.50:
kcht 90
Food .................... 14.5
Gas. electricity and water....... 1.G0i
Education 1856
Household snndries. ............ 2.25
Masters sundries. 500:
IaNes and contributions. ........ $50
Total. ....................s SAT 20
JUST MANAGES TO KEEP
INSIDE THE MARGIN
lie just manages to keep inside the
margin, but there is no allowance for
C!nthcS. In ten q