290 PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. 



HtYip frnp. A double benefit is at once effected ; the corn- 

 grinder has obviously saved time, and provided better and 

 more digestible food. The. process spreads quickly among 

 the community and a rise of material welfare ensues, for those 

 who. feed on the improved nourishment are more healthy and 

 stronger, so that they can accomplish their work more 

 efficiently, and the time spared by the new system can be 

 speut in the pursuit of other kinds of work, whether it be 

 hunting game for food, or tilling the soil for any purpose, or 

 weaving, or implement-making. Time comes when _the two 

 grinding-stones are replaced by a handmill. The inventor 

 of this machine is a greater benefactor than the first ; the 

 upper stone is now moved round and round rapidly by one 

 hand ; the work is far more satisfactory than by the previous 

 process ; for, as one person is sufficient to grind corn for the 

 whole tribe, the other members of the tribe are relieved from 

 thejiecessity of grinding for themselves, and can, undisturbed, 

 attend to various occupations. The benefit is not limited to 

 this ; with the new appliance there also arises a new state of 

 things : the corn-grinder is paid in kind for his labour, and if 

 the tribe, be a numerous one, he has to hire assistance in order 

 \ to carry out the whole work ; and thence there come to be two 

 orrWg of men, the master and the workmen. The latter 

 have secured a means of existence ; they can marry and 

 bring up a family with their earnings, be the wages what they 

 may corn, fruit, garden produce, game, or garments. Later, 

 say during the Egyptian or the Roman period, the water- 

 mill is invented an improvement by which numerous 

 benefits are secured : i, hand-labour is now replaced by 

 machinery ; 2, a natural force, water, becomes man's ser- 

 vant, and saves the employment of a score of hands ; that is, 

 it has economised or, more properly, multiplies labour ; 3, 

 the miller making flour for the whole district now becomes a 

 trader; he buys corn from the grower, thereby benefiting 

 the tiller of the soil, who gets a return for his labour sufficient 

 to keep himself and his family, and to pay working hands ; 

 4, the miller also sells his flour to the bakers, who obtain it 

 from him at a lower rate than if they had to grind their own 

 corn ; 5, the consumer buys ready-made bread at a mode- 



