Peter Montgomery wrote:
>
> In "Preludes" Eliot mentioned smells of steaks in passage ways.
> One of my students wanted to know how people living in such
> meagre circumstances could afford steak. I didn't have an answer
> for her that I could really believe in.
The "Anacortes American," a newspaper published in Anacortes,
Washington has a "looking back at the century" feature and in the page
for the decade 1910-1919 publishes prices for various items
advertised. A pound of steak is cheaper than a movie.
http://skagitpublishing.com/ourcentury/1910-1919.html
Some items listed are:
1914
An eight-reel movie show is 10 cents for children and 20 cents for
adults. James O'Neal stars in Dumas' "The Count of Monte Cristo"
at the Empire Theater. Charles Chaplin a favorite.
Steak is 18 cents a pound and prime rib roast 16 cents a pound.
Two big cans of pineapple are 35 cents.
Ladies coats are $12.50
1917
Hamburger steak is 2 pounds for 25 cents at the Anacortes Market.
Roundtrip to Skagway is $66.
City workers earn $2.50 a day for street workers.
1918
Sauerkraut is 15 cents for a large can.
Anacortes to Seattle roundtrip on a steamer costs $2.50
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