THE COST OF LIVING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5324, 20 April 1878, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE COST OF LIVING.

. ' •! ; (From the S. P. ■ Bulletin.) It was Thoreau, we believe, who reduced the cost' of living to 13 cents a day, including lodgings. But then he built a cabin on the margin of Walden pond, planted a_garden, ate' berries, and drank spring water. Most men who perform manual labor would like, a more bracing diet. Nothing was ever yet gained by starving a stomach, although a spare diet is vastly better, for most people than overfeeding. A late London paper contains the dietetic experiment of l)r. TV L. Nichols, editor of the Herald of Health,' His bill of fare is given, showing that he lived comfortably for an average of less than Id. a day,'or about 7 cents.' During his experiment of a : month he, of course, ate no meat, but they he maintained his regular weight and improved; in health. He notes .the. quantity and price of each article consumed.' The following will serve to illustrate his faro:—“ Breakfast—Oat-. meal and fruit. Dinner—Wheat porridge and. fruit, Cost for the day, Another day' the bill of fare is set down thus ;—Breakfast—Polenta, milk, and stewed apples. Dinner-Potatoes fried in oil, bread and apples. Cost for the day, 3i'd. The menu was varied each day.’ 'But bread, 'fruit, milk, eggs and vegetables/.were.;the limit of his dietary; ranges. A stout man; Standing sft. llin. in. his. stockings, and weighing 12st.’, comes out of his experience of a month a still stouter man. If this list had,.been.served out to a tramp he would havq resented such fare. Not long since a'trauip 'called for a meal at the door,of a citizen’s house., ,It. was given him: When finished, the tramp .lighted his pipe, and proceeded to lecture the housekeeper for not offering him coffee. The standard of living among poor people -in this country is very high. Coffee and tea are not regarded .’os luxuries, but as necessities, and tobacco 1 Comes under the same head. There is no science and no art of living among the poor, save in a few instances. ■ The moment such a diet as that which Dr. Nichols' thought excellent for a well man .should bo imposed) .there would be signs of distress.;