In fact. it may safely be stated that 1I these countries the average wage of men engaged in common and agricultural laboris less than 50 cents per day. while ifi -some sectionsit is even much lower. It is true that in some countries agricultural laborers receive from employers certain concessions in the way of fuel. food. etc.. but in cases of this nature which came to the .attention of the commission the value of the concessions was Insufficient to materially affect the low wage scale. It is a common but erroneous belief that peasants and artisans in the European countries from which the new Immigrant comes. can live so very cheaply that the low wages have practically as great a purchasing power as the higher wages in the United States. The low cost of liv ng among the working people. especially of southern and eastern Europe. is due to a low standard of living rather than to the cheapness of food and other commodities. As a matter of fact. meat and other costly articles of food. which are considered as almost essential. to the everyday table of the American workingman. can not be afforded among laborers in like occupations in southern and eastern Europe.
Identified stereotypes
Generalization about the low standard of living of European peasants and artisans.