The Pleasant Aspects of the Current Scarcity

would certainly have experienced them in the spring, and perhaps even more severely, with a shortage to boot! Instead, we may now expect with certainty that the high prices will subside with the spring, and we will remain free from shortage.

2. The fact that the high prices, which were unavoidable for this harvest year, have arrived now immediately after the harvest, has, besides the advantage of the resulting reduction in consumption and the prevention of an actual shortage, another pleasing aspect for the philanthropist: the benefit of high prices finally accrues to those to whom it is due and to whom it should be granted first, namely, the farmers. Since the high prices prevailed before the harvest, during it, and immediately after