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Show LOWERING THE STANDARD JF LIVING Tho standards of living of tho southern sou-thern and eastern Europeans, who now form the largest proportion of our Industrial workers, ar much low er than thoso of tho native Americans Ameri-cans or of all other classes of wago earners In our mines and factories. Tho preponderance of single men among tho nowcotnors or what practically practi-cally amounts to tho Bamo thing, mar rlod men without their wives and families, haB mado possible a boarding board-ing group system ns usual method of living. Under this arrangement, which prevails in all Industrial local ities a married workman ns a rule, acts as head of a group of immigrant wago earners ranging In number 'from four to twenty. Ills wfd does their cooking and washing nnd tho general housekeeping. Each lodger cither buys his own food and has It cooked separately or tho housewife buys It a.l and Its cost, Is distributed equally among the members of thto group. Tho head ot tho household receives re-ceives n fixed sum, usually $3 per month, from each lodger. His profit obviously increases with tho number of boarders or lodgers ho can keep In his houso or apartment and, consequently1 con-sequently1 ho endeavors to crowd his rooms to their utmost capacity. All available spaco is utilized for sleeping sleep-ing purposes. Often tho same beds which aro occupied nt night by day workers in tho mills or mines aro used during tho day by men on the night shift. W. J. Lauck in Atlantic Atlan-tic Magazine. |
