Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1890-06-26
CORN AS HUMAN FOOD.
Efforts to Introduce tho American Article
More Extensively In European Markets.

The Kansas City Star publishes a
very sensible article on corn as food.
1t will be seen by the article in question
that an effort will be made during the
coming Summer to introduce that cele-
brated American product to tho
European nations through the medium
of the Edinburgh Exposition, which
opens in May next:
The Western farmers will be inter.
ested in tho announcement that the
American Indian corn exhibit will be y
notable feature OF the Edinburgh ex-
position, which opens in May. The
display of American agricultural pro-
duets at the Paris fair last year was
quite incomplete, and the opportunity
which that occasion afforded for adver-
States was not adequately improved
Kansas and Missouri each appropriated
considerable sums to secure proper
representation, but it is doubtful
whether the results have justified the
outlay. though 1t is beloved that the
right kind OF display would have
been highly advantageous.
An effort will DO made to correct
this mistake at the Edinburgh expo.
siti0n. The Chairman of the Execu.
tive Committee and the Lord Provost
of Edinburgh have taken the matter in
hand, and they will make a special
point of cnlightening the public as to
the merits Of Indian corn as food, u
which so little is known at present in
Europe.
1t will be difficult for the people OF
this country. whore corn is such a
popular article of diet to understand
how limited its consumption is iu the
old world. Indeed, it Is stated
that during the famine in Ireland.
when America sent to the distressed
island ship-loads of supplies, nothing
but the pangs of extreme hunger over
came the prejudice which existed in
Ireland against corn as source OF
nutrition for the human stomach. 1t
is still held by the better class in
Europe that corn is unfit for food, and
its wholesomeness is gravely disputed.
1t would seem that, by proper effort,
this apprehension could be removed.
The lectures and writings of scientific
experts have failed to accomplish this
result and a more convincing method
must be employed. II the people OF
the Old World knew how palatable and
wholesome Indian corn is in all of tho
shapes in which it is prepared for
human consumption, the foreign do.
mand for that cereal would increase to
degree that would quite remove all
danger of over-production In this
hac n phnnn.
ness, 1t contains very large percent.
age of nutriment, and being proof
against the process Of decay which rem.
ders other food commodities perishable.
it can be transported to the uttermosi
parts of the earth and preserved for
any length of time. A comparison of the
stalwart, corn-fed American with the
understood Monaghan, who feeds on
rice, and with the degenerate Romans,
who subsist upon macaroni, furnishes
proof of its health-giving properties,
All that is required to popularize it j;
TO enforce its claims 10 a manner
which compel recognition. The mo.
ment is ripe for such an undertaking,
and the Edinburgh fair furnishes the
opportunity.
But there must be departure from
the usual plan of display. The stomach
as well as the eye must be enlisted.
The proof of the pudding is in the
taste. In connection with the corn OK.
hibit at Edinburgh there should be
facilities for cooking it in its various
popular forms, and thus it would be
presented in a new light to tho
European public. The mere prepare.
ton of it in such shape would consti.
tute strong attraction, and cause it to
be talked about far and wide. With
the seductive fap-jap, the toothsoms
| pone-not to speak of mush and maize
pudding-to plead for it, Indian corn
would soon be able to make its way in
the markets of Europe.
The time is coming when America
will lind in lands beyond the sea an
outlet for its surplus of corn, and that
day may be fastened by well-directed
stroke of the enterprise and ingenuity
for which the people Of this country
are noted. If the toiling millions Of
I the old world can be impressed by
practical demonstration with the merits
of Indian corn as food. and can he
taught to eat it. it will soon cease to
be an article of fuel in this country,
and will pay handsome profit to the
producer. The experiment on the
plan suggested is worthy of trial
and it is believed that it would insure
satisfactory and successful results.