The Price of Bread

: Charity.

Some years ago, the bakers of Lyons thought they could
prevail on M. Dugas, the provost of the merchants in that city, to befriend

them at the expense of the public. They waited upon him in a body, and

begged leave to raise the price of bread, which could not be done without

the sanction of the chief magistrate. M. Dugas told them that he would

examine their petition, and give them an early answer. The bakers retired,

having
irst left upon the table a purse of two hundred louis d'ors. In a

few days the bakers called upon the magistrate for an answer, not in the

least doubting but that the money had effectually pleaded their cause.

"Gentlemen," said M. Dugas, "I have weighed your reasons in the balance of

justice, and I find them light. I do not think that the people ought to

suffer under a pretence of the dearness of corn, which I know to be

unfounded; and as to the purse of money that you left with me, I am sure

that I have made such a generous and noble use of it as you yourself

intended. I have distributed it among the poor objects of charity in our

two hospitals. As you are opulent enough to make such large donations, I

cannot possibly think that you can incur any loss in your business; and I

shall, therefore, continue the price of bread as it was."



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