man's struggle for food. • 11 



Spain, and Portugal. Rice constitutes the staple food of a ma- 

 jority of the inhabitants of the world; it is eaten less in America 

 than elsewhere. Barley bread was an ancient food of note, but it is 

 not used now to any great extent except in portions of Russia. Oats 

 was originally the grain food of Europe. It has been eaten in Ger- 

 many for 1,000 years, but it is eaten to-day more in Scotland than 

 in any other country. Ai^owroot flour is derived from a tropical 

 plant grown in both East and West Indies, and when made into a 

 bread is eaten by the inhabitants of these countries. Tapioca flour 

 makes a wholesome bread that is eaten by the inhabitants of Central 

 and South America. The flour is made from the roots of the plant. 

 It is becoming popular in Europe and America. Sago is derived 

 from the pith found in the stem of several varieties of the palm in 

 Sumatra, Java, and Borneo, and makes wholesome bread for the 

 people of those and adjoining islands. Iceland moss also is used as 

 a food. The Eskimos purify it by washing, and then make a fine 

 flour of it that is easily made into a bread. Indian corn^ or maize, 

 was the chief bread plant of American Indians. In Mexico it is 

 still the principal food, and the cakes made of it are called tortillos. 

 In Italy it is called polenta; in Roumania, marfialiga, and in Trans- 

 caucasia, hukurm. In North America it is made into corn pone, 

 johnnycake, ash cake, griddle bread, and com bread. 



Rise of the baker. — The preparation of food for the dignitaries of 

 the world has always been an important matter. You will recall 

 that when Joseph was serving in the house of Potiphar he was cast 

 into prison. Later the royal baker offended his lord, the king, and 

 was cast into prison, where he had a dream which Joseph interpreted. 

 His dream is interesting. " Behold, I had three white baskets on my 

 head, and in the uppermost basket there was all manner of baked 

 meats for Pharaoh." But in his dream he let the birds pick the food 

 and it foretold his doom. The Hebrews on leaving Egypt took with 

 them their knowledge of breadmaking, but they discarded the 

 leavened bread of Egypt and made specific regulations concerning the 

 preparation of bread in " the ovens and in the frying pans." 



The baker, however, became an important person when the people 

 stopped their tribal wanderings and settled down to fixed ways of 

 livinsr. Greece had the most skillful bakers in the world. From 

 that country they went to Eome, and the Greek baker, like the Greek 

 school-teacher, became an important person. It is a significant fact 

 that he who could prepare food after the most approved manner for 

 those who followed intellectual pursuits held almost equal honor 

 with him who trained the intellect of the youth. The bakers of Home 

 formed an association, and sometimes one of them was raised to the 

 dignity of senator. 



