A book of reference the utility of which is beyond
all question, Haydn's Dic tionary of Dates, edited by Benjamin Vincent (Ward, Lock, and Co.), appears in a twenty-second edition. This book dates from 1841; since 1857 it has been under the editorial care of Mr. Vincent, who must be congratulated on having carried on his work for so long. We observe by comparing two articles, " Bread" and " Wheat," some curious facts. Here are the prices, which display, it will be seen, considerable discrepancies :—
1875...Bread... 61d. Wheat...45s. 2d.
1885... „ ...51d. „ ...32s. 10d.
1895... „ ...5d. „ ...23s. Id.
„
„ ...30s. 2d.
It appears that in 1897 bread was 6.59 per pound, wheat being 2'889, while in 1835 bread was 5.59 and wheat 2.96, the baker somehow contriving to make dearer bread out of cheaper wheat. Still more surprising is it that bread in 1897 cost 61d., the very same price which the bakers charged, not, it is to be presumed, out of mere philanthropy, when, in 1875, wheat cost half as much again.
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