Watauga Democrat. [volume] (Boone, Watauga County, N.C.) 1888-current, 1920-05-06
VOL. XXI.
Those Who Do Not Have 10 Economic
Should Set the Example.
Springfield Republican.

Ul1S ONSA ~AAo ASNSAAA>AcS ~ loiS
bly, calls attention to the posi-
bility of meeting the high cost of
living by voluntary retrenchment.
To meet the objection that there
are mot enough overalls to 60 a.
round and that the initial cost
is considerable, a patched clothes
movement has already been be.
gun in New York is said to be
getting some vogue. A movement
quickly carried to such extremes
is not likely to last. 1t may amuse
people to masquerade as raga-
mullins for a few days, but the
fashion will quickly pass and
those who take it up may 60 by
a natural revulsion 70 the oppo.
site extreme.
Yet everybody recognizes that
a general retrenchment, consci.
entiously kept up long enough to
allow depleted stocks to be made
good, would be of benefit to all.
In New Orleans even the shoe
dealers are cordially advising the
public mot to buy shoes unless
they are absolutely needed; the
price is too high, and even so the
profit is small. From Viena not
long ago came a report of a move.
ment for going barefoot till next
winter-a practice so contrary to
modern urban etiquette thateven
in the midst of famine it has to
be inaugurated by organizing
barefoot society. Yet till quite
recent times a great part of the
population of Europe habitually
went barefoot in warm weather;
in a century the expenditure
which has come to appear neces.
sary has greatly increased.
To 60 barefoot much as small
boys enjoy it would be rather ex'
treme for q civilization not yet
quite bankrupt, but short of that
there are any number of gradua-
tions in economy. 1t is to be fear
ed that the Dutch manufacturer
who was recently said to be on his
way to this country to show Am.
orleans the advantage of the
wooden shoes will find US rather
conservative on this point; the
wooden shoe is delightful in pic
tires but for actual use some
what alarming to people not
brought up to it. Yet there is no
lack of other substitutes for
leather when leather is scarce;
the sensible thing would have
been for half or two.thirds of the
by this time to be wearing shoes
of canvas or some other servicea-
BILE material; the trouble is in get
ting such a movement started
and in getting the supply PIE
pared to meet the demand. Man
ufacturers cannot force people to
accept some economical substi-
tute.
If organized effort to bring
down the cost of living Is to sue
ceed it must have a toierably
broad and flexible program, and
its fundamental principle ought
to be making the utmost of the
existing stocks. Materials and
manufacturers have in modern
times been so cheap that expense
has come mainly from the fire
quent changes in fashion in which
even people of moderate means
could afford to indulge. They
might buy rather cheap things
but this mattered little because
they did not wear clothing YER.
long. When materials are scarce
and labor is dear this modern
practice becomes an unwarrantet
extravaganza even for the well-to
do; it needlessly consumes wha
the wor. / needs. There is mucI
to be said, therefore for a unite'
effort to save wherever a savin
can be effected and whateverhal
pens to. encourage people to d
tbo;r mart ia a clear gain. Tn