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The fact, as pointed out by Mr. Goschen in his now historical address as President of the Royal Statistical Society, that the number of incomes between 1,000l. and 500l. per annum, between the years 1877 and 1886, shows no fluctuation seems roughly to suggest that between these two amounts may lie the happy mean in the enjoyment of which, in the present condition of the wealthy classes, a man may be looked upon as neither too rich nor too poor. This stationary body, he pointed out, is being reinforced from below as well as from above, but it is with the descending body that we are at present concerned, since the tastes of the ascending body would naturally be limited rather than extravagant.

To return then to our immediate consideration, 'How to live on 700l. a year;' and we must, for its proper consideration, be careful to bear in mind this postulate: that it is with the descending body that we have to deal, which involves another-namely, that the individuals composing this body have, by their bringing up, acquired extravagant tastes.

Now, it would hardly be well, even were it possible, to catalogue on the one side all the advantages of bachelorhood, and on the other all the advantages of matrimony, adding to the former the disadvantages of the latter and to the latter the disadvantages of the former, and then seeing which will turn the scale.

The matter is not within the scope of mathematics, nor is it capable of solution by avoirdupois. The tastes of every individual differ both in kind and in quantity, and after all each must be the final judge of what is best in his individual case. All that we can do is to point out what can be done on 700l. a year, and leave each and every that it concerns to decide whether he is prepared to take these in exchange for what he sacrifices, always bearing in mind, of course, facilis descensus-sed revocare

Before entering into particulars it will be well at once to say that no counting of every penny is to be tolerated, although ordinary caution and carefulness of money must be practised.

At the end of this article we propose to tabulate, under their special headings, the different items of expenditure, to which we shall add such remarks as may seem necessary for their elucidation. But before doing so it may be as well to point out some of those particulars in which considerable saving may be effected, by a little consideration or management, and in this connection we shall find in truth that the most expensive habit which we have acquired is false pride. If we are prepared to put down this, as some people put down their carriages, we shall find at once a surprising reduction in our expenditure.

Take local travelling for example. What is it but pride that makes us on a fine day prefer a hansom cab to the box seat of an omnibus or the garden-seated top of a road-car? Unless, of course, we

are in any special hurry to get to our destination. Again, who will contend that it is pleasanter to travel in a growler than inside an improved omnibus or tram-car? And, even were this not conceded, we must not forget that two shillings a day in cabs-and this is a very small allowance-against twopence a day in omnibuses, makes the difference of 33l. 98. 2d. at the end of the year. Again, if travelling is done day by day on the Metropolitan and District Railways, consider the saving that putting our pride into our pockets and taking out a third, instead of a first-class, fare effects by the end of the year. Say it is a daily journey from Notting Hill Gate to the Mansion House and back. Here we have a saving of 9l. 58.; so that, presuming that a wife and husband between them do the aforesaid amount of omnibus and third-class travelling-by no means an unusual quantityagainst the same amount of cab and first-class travelling, a saving is accomplished on local travelling alone of 42l. 148. 2d. The amount thus spent may also be largely diminished by encouraging a habit of walking a practice which all dwellers in London, if strong enough, should adopt for reasons of hygiene. This mode of locomotion, of necessity, being slower, may require a corresponding readjustment of the breakfast hour, where the man has any regular business to attend to; but against this small inconvenience, a smaller doctor's bill is surely a good set-off, besides other evident moral advantages.

Take again the habit of smoking. The Benedict will not in all probability be called upon by a wife of the present day to eschew 'that noxious weed called nicotine' altogether; but he must be aware, if he has ever kept any accounts, what an appalling amount a regular expediture on cigars will reach at the end of a year. Here, again, all that is wanted is a pocketing of his pride. For nine smokers out of ten will tell you that a pipe is the pleasantest of all smokes,' and no one can doubt that it is the most wholesome. Let us see here again what the saving may be put at. A moderate smoker will consume three cigars a day at sixpence a-piece. Let him exchange this for half an ounce of tobacco at fivepence an ounce-an advantageous bargain, if we may judge by the amount of smoke produced. Here then we have a yearly saving of 23l. 118. 51d., the reward of pocketing our pride; and since it would not do to smoke a pipe in the park or walking with a lady, a pound or two might well be afforded to provide a supply of good cigarettes.

Again in the case of amusements. A half-guinea stall at the theatre is an expensive luxury; but stalls for two cost just double, for we must remember that the wife requires recreation as well as the husband. Here, again, pride is all that has to be sacrificed, and an ascent must be made to the upper circle-a front seat in which is, in most theatres, the very best place from which to view a performance. These seats cost about four shillings a-piece. Thus for eight shillings two people may see the same show as one in a half-guinea stall, VOL. XXIII.-No. 132.

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besides the inestimable advantage of having a sympathetic companion. Front seats, it may be mentioned, may be invariably secured by taking the trouble to settle on an evening a week or so in advance. Thus also much pleasure is gained in anticipation. And in this connection it will not be out of place to point out that the domestic hearth affords a great counter-attraction to the evening amusements considered almost essential in days of bachelorhood. The inclination to turn out after dinner decreases and the expenditure on entertainments accordingly shows a corresponding tendency.

For the first year of married life a girl will, in the majority of cases, find the day-time hang heavily upon her hands, until her husband returns home towards evening. How can she better employ her mornings than by doing her marketing herself? By this means she becomes informed of the proper value of groceries, meat, fish, game, et hoc genus omne, and when the time comes, as it probably will, that she is laid up and has to leave the housekeeping temporarily in the hands of her cook, she will have the satisfaction of knowing that on resuming the reins of government she will be able to recognise whether she has been robbed or not. Realising, too, that the food supply is her special province, she will take a pride in keeping down the expenses in this respect. And there are many ways in which this may be done, to the mutual advantage both of the supplier and supplied. Take one example: fishmongers constantly find themselves burdened with splendid food which must be destroyed because it will not keep fresh. If a standing arrangement be made for, say, sixpennyworth of fish to be sent, in time for late dinner, every alternate day, it will be found that two or three times the market value will be supplied, as the dealer is actually glad to rid himself of his surplusage.

Referring back to the suggestion that a mistress may find herself robbed when temporarily incapacitated, it is unnecessary here to make more than a passing reference to the system of bonuses which is known to be adopted by a large class of tradesmen. From long usage town-bred servants are more likely to fall in with arrangements of this kind without much pricking of their consciences. It is therefore most advisable that a young wife should provide herself, if possible, with country-bred servants of good character. If she can procure them from the village where her parents or her husband's parents may live, so much the better. The possible feelings of respect and affection, besides the knowledge that any dishonesty discovered would become known at home, undoubtedly will act as powerful checks on any tendency to any deterioration of character.

Again a systematic keeping of accounts will be found to be a strong hindrance to reckless, thoughtless, and extravagant expenditure. No one knows until he acquires the habit of observing his daily expenses how money is frittered away with a wholly inadequate

return.

Both husband and wife should daily make up their separate accounts. The trouble of doing so is reduced to a minimum by the excellent diaries which are now published with columns for every item clearly marked. This habit soon becomes confirmed, and is practised as naturally and with hardly more trouble than winding one's watch before getting into bed. Then, at the end of every week, these separate accounts should be entered into the general account book. The emulation of each to keep their expenditure low, and the little triumphs of ways and means, help to make interesting a practice which, to those who have not experienced it, may appear sordid and devoid of charm. And, in this connection, it must be insisted upon that bills, large and small, should be always promptly paid. Thus will be avoided the otherwise inevitable bilious fever' which becomes epidemic at Christmas-time, and which is not conducive to the goodwill and peace which should be looked for.

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Such methods of checking unnecessary expenditure might be multiplied almost ad infinitum; but the foregoing examples will suffice to suggest the principles that must be adopted by our luxuriously inclined couple who have to start life on 700l. a year.

We now proceed, in accordance with our promise in the early part of this article, to schedule the actual expenses incurred in the second year of marriage by just such a young couple as we have had in our mind :

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It is obvious that the above schedule will be of little value unaccompanied by some short notes on the particular items, for before

4 13 9

50 19 2

700 0 0

our gentleman can decide on making the exchange of freedom for the bonds of matrimony he will require to know what he may expect to get in return.

Under the first two headings-rent, rates and taxes-it may then be noted that our model pair pay 105l. rental, rates and taxes being something under 40l. per annum. Their house is situated close to Kensington Gardens in a cheerful terrace upon sandy soil, in a thoroughly respectable, if not fashionable, neighbourhood. It has a small garden in the rear, and stands back about ten yards from the roadway. It comprises kitchen, scullery and servants' hall, with separate entrance in the basement; dining-room and drawing-room on the ground floor, four large bedrooms, two small, a dressing-room and a bath-room, as well as an ample supply of offices. The household, besides Monsieur et Madame, consists of one child and three servants-nurse, cook, and house-parlourmaid-the wages of these amounting, as above appears, to nearly 50l. per annum. And here it may be remarked that another advantage in the employment of country servants is the lower rate of wages that they are willing to take.

Under the heading of food it will not be necessary to say more than that dinner or luncheon parties are of course out of the question; for, although 'pot luck' may at any time be offered, people do not expect extravagant entertainments from those living in small houses.

In the matter of dress false pride is at the bottom of large expenditure, and, if our bachelor is not prepared to sacrifice this, then, as we have before pointed out, he must not venture on the connubial experiment. As for the wife, a very small amount will suffice if she knows how to put on her clothes. If she does not, no expenditure of money will make up for the deficiency.

Under the heading of 'travelling and tips' we may mention that the expenditure includes hotel charges and rent of lodgings for a month at the sea-side, besides expenses incidental to numerous visits to the country extending over six weeks or more. As to local travelling we have spoken above.

In fact, the only other item that need be mentioned is 'garden.' With a little management, and a good deal of manual labour, a most wholesome antidote to a lazy London life, much enjoyment may be obtained, despite the ravages of sparrows and the revels of midnight

cats.

The balance of 50l. 19s. 2d. is a most satisfactory one, and should be guarded religiously against a possible rainy day, though it must not be forgotten that a certain portion of every income should be spent in assisting our poorer neighbours in their hard battle with

want.

GEORGE SOMES LAYARD.

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