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51 commonly maintaining themselves, though not earning a maintenance as ample as they could wish. This would in like manner cause a further addition to the price, and these additions would necessarily produce the dependence I mentioned. For the earnings of the young, of which the nominal amount would remain nearly the same, would become incompetent to their maintenance under the advanced prices.

It is difficult to determine what limit should be assigned to the rise of the price of food in this form of society. The increase of means being accumulated with the old, the position of the limit would practically depend on the average amount of the pecuniary assistance which they would devote to the assistance of the young. It is reasonable to assume that this would be generally confined to the sum, which, in combination with the earnings of these, would be sufficient for their maintenance while they should remain unmarried. Beyond this point it is probable that most parents would be unwilling to continue their assistance. They would hesitate at the prospect of an indefinite charge, and, at the most, the assistance