New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-16
Soaring Prices Force Bull
wark of Nation to Lower
Standard of Living and
Also to Liquidate Assets
Social Life Is Abandoned
Sons No Longer Go to Col
lege But Are Compelled
to work for Family

HlSH IlNluE COSCS ana low salaries, Eng
lands great middle class is to-day
struggling for continued existence.
They are being forced to lower their
standards Of living, to liquidate the
assets acquired i'll better years and to
surrender one by one the phases of
intellectual and social life that made
the middle class the bulwark of the
nation and the empire.
1t has been said that English society
was like English beer-froth at the top
dregs at the bottom, but good solid
brew in the middle stratum. England
has always depended on her middle
class. They gave her the business
men, the scientists, writer's and artists.
Their sons entered the army and the
navy. founded and built up the colonies
overseas.
Who were these people Of the middle
class? Before the war their homes
were found in the suburbs, on small
country estates and in provincial
towns. The father was perhaps a pro
fessional man or III business. The
family income ranged from $4,000 to
$500 year. This sum enabled them
to live in comparative luxury and even
to save and invest. Their budgets were
carefully arranged, their funds must
needs be we'll managed, but by skill
ful use Of the income they were able
TO afford many little Injuries of life.
The sons went TO the great public
schools, Rugby, Elton and Harrow
alter there would be a son in tho
service, perhaps an officer in India
The daughters married prosperous men
OF their class. Many of the families
owned their own homes, perhaps even
owned small farm in the countryside.
lhey could travel bit--a holiday at
the coast or even a week in Switzer-
land. Thus, cultured balanced and
conservative, they formed the strongest
part of England's social fabric
Food 1872 Per Cent Higher
To-day the situation has changed.
The cost Of living curve has risen to
1853 per cent over costs in July, 1914
Food alone is 1872 per cent higher. Land
taxes and income taxes have been piled
upon the man Of moderate means and.
in addition, he feels the burden of the
excess profit taxes, supertaxes and
corporation taxes that big business is
bearing. The annual interest or the
national debt has risen from per
capita sum Of $3.50 in 1914 to $3.50
to-day. The wages of the middle class
have not kept pace with these adj
vances. They have risen to some extent
to very large extent in the union
lied labor eroups-but the business
man and the professional man find
their incomes only few pounds more
than in 1914. Their expenses have
doubled. In other words, their living
has been cut in half.
1t is obviously impossible under
these conditions to maintain the old
standard. Sacrifices must be made on
every hand. The younger son can no
longer plan to go to the university
he must enter trade as a junior clerk
to contribute his share toward the
family income. The daughter also
must 60 to business in the city. Old
clothes must be worn little while
to do" Clubs and sports-the motor
cycle or sailboat-must be given up.
Iheaters and concerts are no longer
possible. The friends who drop in I'M
eXpectedly for dinner become d serious
economic problem. As an English
journalist recently said, "The middle
class is being forced to eliminate all 4
the decorative margin of life"
Situation Becomes Acute
This transition period has been pro
crossing slowly, but the situation has
now become acute. During the war the
sacrifice was universal and was made
OH the grounds of national necessity. /
To meet the high prices the family
savings were cut into and disappeared
The family investments were liqui
dated. Perhaps the cottage in the
country was sold. And suddenly. with
middle class man found that he was
just where he had started life Peace
did not solve the problem, however,
Prices continued high, but his salary
was nearly the same. Now, after six
years of high prices the situation of
the middle class is becoming desperate.
Many are dropping back into absolute
poverty; all feel the pinch of the
times.
There are certain we'll defined groups I
that, from variety OF causes, suffer I
more than others. These are:
/. Professional people.
.. Retired business men and others +
OF fixed Dre-war incomes.
s. Pensioned ex-officers and civil I
servants.
4. The clerks and white collar men.
These people constitute the New I
Poor" All alike face the same hard
ships, deprivatons and the lowering I
of their standards Of living. All meet
the new conditions BY the same sacri-
fees. But in each case the immediate
cause of distress varies.
Professional Men Affected
The income OF the average profess (
sional man has risen little. Changing
times have brought no change in the (
scope or nature OF his work lie he is
d doctor or lawyer with a small prac-
tice he has more difficulty than before
in collecting his bills. The ncidentals
OF his profession, the expenses of Of /
ices. books and medicines have all
risen in price. He furthermore has
social and profess onal position to
maintain. The schoolmaster and the
clergyman. the medical man and the