M. d'Avenel's Lecture Yesterday

M. Georges d'Avenel delivered the fifth Hyde lecture yesterday afternoon on "Le budget des depenses de l'ouvrier et du paysan, depuis sept cent ans."

M. d'Avenel stated that the expenditures of agricultural and commercial workmen did not increase in proportion to their salaries, but that they were governed by independent laws. In the fifteenth century, transport from Rouen to Amiens (80 miles) cost as much as the transport today from the west of the United States to Havre would cost; but the wages of labor in the sixteenth century represented 10 hectolitres of wheat, while nowadays they represent 37 1-2 hectolitres.

M. d'Avenel then traced the changes in price which had affected other food products from the Middle Ages down to the present time. Similar changes have indirectly applied to clothing as well. Now a suit of clothes represents about four per cent of the income of the average workingman, whereas in old times it represented about eight per cent of the salaries.

At the end of the monarchy as a result of the increased population, the price of manufacture fell, as did the salaries, but the manufactured articles rose in value; this was a disastrous state for the workingmen. But during the last 60 years the opposite conditions have been in evidence: salaries have been increased and commodities have decreased in value. Certain commonplace luxuries have been put within the reach of the workingman, but in fact, it is the commonplace which makes the eulogy and glory of the present.

The next lecture, on Monday at 4.30 o'clock, will be on "L'influence de I'Etat et celle des mouvements de la population sur le prix du travail."