The Elbert County tribune., 1917-09-14
Everything Except Rents of Fine
Apartments Have Gone Up
Under War.
JUMP Is TO 200 PER CENT
Meats Head the List; but Clothing Is
Not Far BehInd-Scarcity of La
bor Is Big Factor in Increased
Cost of Living.


Paris.-One singlesi item excepted,
everything in France has advanced
from 25 to 200 per cent in the last
three years. The rent of large apart
ments is the only item which has de-
creased since the war began, and that
is due to the fact that thousands of
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. chiefiy-pack-
ed off to the United States in August,
1914, subleasing their homes for a
song. and thousands of French people
who formerly had handsome places
can no longer afford the upkeep, es-
pecially with coal almost impossible to
get and with the servant question a
greater problem than 1t ever wns.
Today one can find a handsomely
furnished apartment of seven rooms
or more in fine modern building. with
all improvements, at cheaper rental
than the place would have cost un-
furnished before the war. But one
would find also an elevator-of the
automatic brand-that does not work,
radiators with no heat, hot water
pipes with no hot water, and re-
striction on the very amount of gas
and electricity consumed per month.
And with posi- .ons at good wages In
munition factories open to every girl
from sixteen years up, 1t is almost
impossible to find house servants.
Small Apartments Dearer.
Rentals for apartments of one. two,
three, or even four rooms, on the
other hand, have mounted steadily.
They are In demand by the well-to-do
refugees, Belgians and those from
the north of France who arrive in
large patches daily.
Telephones were increased exactly
so per cent year ago. Today line
costs COO francs yearly instead of 400
with unlimited calls-but the sub
scriber must pay for the instrument
and pay for the wiring and other work
done by the electrician who installs It,
Bread is truly the stnff of life of the
French, and bread has not risen in
price. One buys still the long loaf for
five sous, or exactly one-fifth of 1t for
one sou. But it is no longer the Won
derful white pain" for which France
was noted: 1t Is dark, rather sour and
soggy, and is day old before being
sold. 1t is understood that when the
nation goes on bread cards this au-
tumn and the amount allotted to each
will be smaller. the bread will be
winter and better and served fresh.
Wine, next to bread, is essential at
the French table, and here one finds
sharp advance In cost. Before the
war a bottle of fair win ordinaire,
either red or white, could be bought
for go centimes, or 10 cents. Today
the same wine will cost at least one
franc, probably LOS and possibly 1.50,
and deposit must be left on all bot
ties because there is IA great shortage
with bottle manufacturers working
almost entirely for the army. And
after one has paid five sous deposit
on the bottle and returns it he usually
receives only three sous back, the
wine merchant explaining there is Il
charge of two sous for rental of the
bottle.
The better the wine the greater the
Increase in price. especially If 1t comes
from Champagne or any other section
in the zone of the armies where there
are difficulties to the industry. Good
dry champagne that cost - francs be-
fore the war now commands is or 20
francs. and the sweeter varieties are
only franc or so cheaper.
Meat Price Doubled.
Meat has doubled in nearly every
case, and in the exceptions 1t has
increased more than 100 per cent.
Pork takes the lead, small chop
often costing as much as l franc
80 centimes. nearly 80 cents. Sliced
ham and bacon are marked ut pro-
hibitive prices, but then few French
people eat them. Veal and lamb are
the favorite French meats, and they
have both doubled in price. A roast of
veal will cost from three to three and
half francs kilo-two pounds and
quarter. Beef has scared like an
airRlane, costing four. five, and even