Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-10-01
was made forsidding the manufacture

of beer.
kf
In 1921 England had what is regarded
serious famines.
Ten Dollars a Bushel But this was the
Paid for Wheat. sersas :, Srs.,
crop shortages in Ireland. In 1892 wheat
sold for $40 bushel there. A half GEN.
fury later there was a famine Of three
years in England. which was attributed To
the boarding OF corn. The mayor and citi-
zens of London took out of the orphans
chest in their guild hall money to buy
corn and other foods beyond its seas.
and provision was made whereby the gov
eminent sold food to the poor at APP
pointed prices, where they. were able 10
pay for 1t, and took notes payable sew
eral years hence, where they were not
able to pay cash.
The English poor law dates from 1886.
when Queen Elizabeth, observing the
general dearth OF corn and other foods,
resulting partially from drought, but
principally from the greediness Oh me
orn-masters, issued proclamation re-
curing government relief to be extended
by the justices Of the pea e to the poor
OF their communities"
One OF the frequent complaints insEng-
u
there was sold abroad. Penketham says
that, in 1916, some apprentices and
other young people about the city or
London, being pinched of their yictuals
more than they had been accustomed.
ing but three pence pound when
the owners could not afford to sell 1t
under five pence q pound; for which. ais
order the said young men We're punish
ed on the twenty-seventh OF June by
ha md .imnrf9On-
ment." It was about this time that Eng
land became very severe on all people
who gave short weight or otherwise took
advantage OF the buyers OF food.
seventeenth century. beginning with one
In Russia, in which half million people
died. Wars caused famines in Ireland
and In India during this century.
In 1895 occurred the first of the great
famines Of India OF which we have
record. 1t is estimated that 100000 peo-
pie died during this famine and tho
chronologers of the period saw that tho
air was SO infected by the odors or de-
caying bodies that IL was scarcely pos
sible to go abroad without perceiving
1t, and without hearing, also. the frantic
cries of the victims of the famine. who
were seen at every stage or suffering ana
death. When the new crop came for
ward in August in many cases IL had no
owners.
With the rapid growth OF population
during the nineteenth century and the
slow develop
Famine's Death Roll ment OF
May Be 2Oo,Ooo,0oO. tion f : sDHfe@'
there were demands for food that could
not be met. India and Ireland were tho
worst sufferers. Ireland's first great
potato famine occurred in 1922. and was
repeated at intervals up to 1886. During
the latter year 1t was supposed that
quarter Of million people died Pariia-
ment advanced nearly s5O,oO0.O00 for pro-
tecting the masses from starvation. More
than q million Irish left for America to
escape the starvation and the pesulence
which followed. That was the last OF the
great famines OF Ireland.
A million and half people persisted
In India in 1860 and 100000 In 1873
to 1878. In China nearly 100000 peo-
pie persisted during this latter period ana
Of the great Indian famines occurred, en-
failing loss of million lives and $780,
100000 The government spent SJ0,OO.-
900 on relief and at one time nearly
5, 100000 people were dependent upon OUT
side aid.
While there are no statistics available
to show the number of people who died
from starvation in the nearly 400 famnes
Of history IT is conservatively estimated
that no. less than 2Oo.000.00O have died
from starvation, and that OF these three
fourths may be attributed to crop fail.
ures which were the result of droughts.