One hundred years ago
THE April number of Harper's Maga- zine contains an article of an unusual kind. It is a comparative view of the life of working men in America and in several countries of Europe . . .. The cost of living as every one knows, 'is greater in America than in any state in Europe. It is 10 to 20 per cent higher than in England; it is twice as high as in France; it is three times as expensive as in Italy.' Does the rate of wages in America compensate for this increased outlay? As compared with the Conti- nent of Europe, Mr Meriwether thinks it does. The American working man is decidely better off, so far as necessaries are concerned, than the French or Italian working man. As compared with England, the case seems different. We gather that Mr Meriwether thinks that the average English workman lives in greater material comfort than the aver- age American workman.
The Spectator, 26 March 1887
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