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Show j - THE COST OF LIVING. . The partial investigation of the Govern-! Govern-! inent, covering .only wage earnings in ' i: those establishments In continuous opera-; opera-; tic n, shows an Increase in of eleven m ' plants in weekly earnings over the record . of $32. as against the increase of oily seven and a half points in the cost of liv- ing. The increase of freight earnings is '. - tlurtv-eight iwinls, and that of bank loans und "discounts la thiity-twb points, whfie the othr twj Indexes ehow still larger ad-ances. ad-ances. Were these not the official records pubiiBhed by the National Government, cne Would be Inclined to believe them the ' Irresponsible Imaginings of a eenaation- ".: monger. Why Is It, then, that thrre are today jieonle. and iiiany of them, who find it Just 1 . us difticult to 'rrako- ends meet" as they , " did a dozen year ago? As to individual -7apps, that la alWays true. Many even " ' i find'it rrtore difficult.' The reason in those ' instances 's wholly individual, and may be - ciueno any one of many causes, which, tin- der anv and all conditions, bring special " adversity or special prosperity, as the. case rntf be. ' As to the oeopie In general. If it be true r that it is difficult for them to balance ac-.' ac-.' - . counts-as in former years (and It prob-! prob-! i ably- true), it is for the reason that, al- ( most universally, increased Income is used I - to its fullest exianxlon in the gratification of increased ambitions. If a larger in- come, then more hooks and magazines, an extra supply of floor rugs, a new set of - - better curtains. A few more amusements, a better grade of clofhisg, a more costly brand of cigars, a more expensive wedding. ' m iittle more for religion, a home telephone " f ervice. electric lights,, increased savings ' licfosits, a larger life insurance, etc., v jihouV Mmlt. according to persons! am-iitions.-F. W. 11a wes in Harper's Weck- i . . " i ' |