H.C. OF L. is an abbreviation I see often in American newspapers. From the context it was not hard to guess what it meant. In Paris we call that "preoccupation" (note the euphemism for "nightmare") la vie chère. But we never mention it in any other tone than that of complete and definitive resignation. We do not kick against the pricks. We gave up long ago berating the Government and thinking that anything we can do would change matters. We pay or go without. Our motto is Kismet. These are good days to be a Mohammedan or a Christian Scientist. The latter is preferable, I think, because it is comfortable to get rid of a thing by denying its existence.
For the sake of record I have compiled a little table that tells more eloquently than words the price we have paid—from the material point of view—for the privilege of dictating peace to Germany. Is it not strange that peace costs more than war? The greater part of the increases I record here have come since the armistice. The figures opposite the names of commodities represent the percentage of increase since August 1, 1914:
| FOODSTUFFS | |
| Beef | 400 |
| Mutton | 350 |
| Veal | 350 |
| Poultry | 400 |
| Rabbit | 400 |
| Ham | 400 |
| Bacon | 225 |
| Lard | 225 |
| Paté de foie | 300 |
| Potatoes | 325 |
| Carrots | 325 |
| Turnips | 450 |
| Cabbage | 850 |
| Cauliflower | 725 |
| Artichokes | 650 |
| Salads | 200 |
| Radishes | 500 |
| Oranges | 200 |
| Bananas | 400 |
| Figs | 500 |
| Prunes | 650 |
| Celery | 1900 |
| Salt | 150 |
| Pepper | 250 |
| Sugar | 225 |
| Olive oil | 350 |
| Vinegar | 225 |
| Coffee | 150 |
| Macaroni | 150 |
| Vermicelli | 250 |
| Rice | 25 |
| Canned goods | 200-400 |
| Butter | 350 |
| Eggs | 400 |
| Cheese | 400-600 |
| Milk | 150 |
| Bread | 50 |
| Flour | 200 |
| Pastry | 300-400 |
| Ordinary wine | 300 |
| Vins de luxe | 50-100 |
| Champagne | 150 |
| Ordinary beer | 200 |
| Cider | 400 |
| HEATING AND LIGHTING | |
| Coal | 250 |
| Charcoal | 250 |
| Kindling-wood | 300 |
| Cut-wood | 300 |
| Gasoline | 125 |
| Wood-alcohol | 500 |
| Gas | 100 |
| Electricity | 50 |
| CLOTHING | |
| Tailored suits | 150 |
| Ready-made suits | 300 |
| Shoes | 200-300 |
| Hats | 250 |
| Neckties | 150 |
| Cotton thread | 500 |
| Cotton cloth | 275 |
| Collars | 150 |
| Shirts | 150-350 |
| Gloves | 150-250 |
| Millinery | 150 |
| Stockings | 150 |
| Needles | 500 |
| Yarn | 500 |
| LAUNDRY | |
| Laundry work | 150-200 |
| Potash | 350 |
| Soap | 550 |
| Blueing | 200 |
| FURNITURE | |
| In wood | 200 |
| In iron | 300 |
| Mirrors | 400 |
| Bedding | 300 |
| HOUSEHOLD LINEN | |
| Sheets | 750 |
| Linen sheeting | 900 |
| Cotton sheeting | 900 |
| Pillow-cases | 400 |
| Dish-towels | 600 |
| Bath and hand towels | 400 |
| Napkins | 500 |
| Table cloths | 400 |
| TABLE AND KITCHEN | |
| Cutlery | 125 |
| Plated-ware | 150 |
| Table china | 300 |
| Kitchen china | 200 |
| Copper kitchen ware | 125 |
| Aluminum ware | 100 |
| Crystal ware | 225 |
| Cut glass | 200-350 |
| Ordinary plates | 200 |
| Fancy plates | 150 |
| Brooms and brushes | 125 |
| Lamps | 250 |
| MEANS OF TRANSPORT | |
| Railway tickets | 50 |
| Excess baggage | 250 |
| Sleeping births | 400 |
| Commutation | 75 |
| Taxi-cabs | 75 |
| Omnibuses | 35-50 |
| Tramways | 35-50 |
| Postal cards | 100 |
| STATIONERY AND BOOKS | |
| Writing-paper | 900 |
| Wrapping-paper | 1000 |
| Paper for printing | 500-800 |
| Newspapers | 100 |
| Magazines | 50 |
| Books | 100 |
| DRUGS AND PERFUMERY | |
| Fancy soaps | 300-400 |
| Toilet waters | 200 |
| Tisanes | 150 |
| Eucalyptus | 400 |
| Patent medicines | 150-200 |
| Lozenges | 250 |
| Powdered drugs | 150 |
| Prescriptions | 100 |
| Bottles for Prescriptions | 300-525 |
| TOBACCO | |
| Smoking tobacco | 50-60 |
| Ordinary cigarettes | 40-75 |
| Cigarette de luxe | 100 |
| Ordinary cigars | 50 |
| Cigars de luxe | 100-150 |
| Snuff | 50 |
While we decided upon what to do with the Germans, the rest of our enemies, and the very troublesome races we had liberated, the Chamber of Deputies passed a national eight-hour law. This did not bring down wages by the day. In fact, shorter hours of labor led to more insistent demands for higher wages to meet the increase in la vie chère. Everyone borrowed from Peter to pay Paul.
On the day the German plenipotentiaries arrived at Versailles, my children insisted on going out to see them. We had to wait until Sunday, when my husband was free. Out we went on a bright May morning. There were six Gibbonses, four of them very small, and one of my American soldier boys. Of course we ate in the famous restaurant of the Hôtel des Réservoirs, where the Germans were lodged. We did not see the Germans. The only sensation of the day was the bill for a simple luncheon—two hundred and eight francs.
"It pays to be the victors!" I exclaimed.
"Those who have anything to sell," modified my husband, grinning cheerfully (God knows why!) as he bit the end off a ten-franc cigar.
"The children will never forget this historic day," he added, handing the waiter twenty francs.
"Nor I," said the children's mother.