The San Francisco call., 1905-06-04
CHINESE FIRST
To MAKE SUGAR
Asiatics Are Credited With
Having Been the Original
Cultiyators of the Cane
VENICE EARLY TRADER
Saccharine Product of the
Beet the Discovery OF
a German Chemist in 1747

Few other commodities possess a
larger photography than sugar. Never
theless, the early history of sugar is
wrapped in obscurity. Formerly chem
lists called everything sugar" which
had a sweet taste, but the term in Its
scientific sense soon came to be re-
stricted to the sweet principles in vege-
table and animal juices. Only one of
these, cane sugar, was known as
pure substance until 1919, when an
italian chemist isolated the sugar Of
milk and proved it's individuality. The
original habitat of sugarcane is not
known, but it seems to have been first
cultivated in China and to have ex-
tended thence to India and Arabia at
comparatively late date. Sugar is not
mentioned by either Grecian or Roman
writer's until the time of Nero, and
sugar candy was the first and only
species known to the European
ancients. 1t was the original manu-
facture of the East, particularly China,
and found its way into Europe, as raw
sugars did in after ages. by way of
India, Arabia and the Red Sea. Sugar
when first introduced into every coun-
try was used only incidentally. Almost
all physicians, beginning with the Arab
leeches, employed 1t originally to rem
der unpleasant and nauseating medi-
cines grateful to the sick, and recon-
mended it in complaints of the chest
and lungs.
That which preserveth apples and plums
VIII also preserve liver and lungs
is an old adage. But the use Of sugar
sirups and preserves came later. while
barely three centuries have elapsed
since 1t became an ingredient in the
popular diet of Europe.
SrrcaD TIE, nv nr eurNUru
The Venetians were the fathers Of
the European sugar trade. Anterior to
the year 114S they both imported con-
siderable quantities of sugar from In
dia and planted the cane in the island
of Sicily. With the produce of this
island and the Indian imports the Vene-
tians carried on a great trade and sup
piled all the markets of Europe with
this commodity. However, the exact
date when sugar was first introduced
into England is difficult to ascertain.
One OF the earliest references to sugar
In England is that of 100, 900 pounds of
sugar being shipped to London in 1919
by one Loredanao, merchant of
Venice, to be exchanged for wool. In
the same year there appears in the
accounts of the chamberlain of Scot
land payment at the rate of Is 91k d a
pound for sugar Writing in 1885,
sugar allegorically.
The increased use Of sugar was cred
tied with having extinguished the
plague In Europe; 1t certainly contrib
uted to suppress the native malady of
England. the scurvy. There used to be
custom in Wales on Ascension day
for children to form parties to take
sugar and water at a neighboring we'll
Each child was provided with sugar
az a The 10
mated sugar and water" day. The su-
perstition was that all who drank of
the mixture there on that day would
be proof against Illness and protected
from evil spirits for twelve months
Hone mentions similar custom being
prevalent in Derbyshire on Easter Sum
day under the name OF sugar cup
ping
QUEEN ANNE's SUGAR ToNGs.
Sugar tongs at meals came in dur
ing the reign of Queen Anne and the
use of them was long confined to Brit
ish households. DR.. Johnson Is COM
monty supposed not to have been over
nice about his table manners, but he
pronounced the French IAN indelicate
people" because they knew not the ar
ticle when he visited Paris In 1775. The
incident that excited his disgust oc-
Cured at a party at Nine. du Bocaze's.
The footman took the sugar in his fin
gers and threw 1t into the Doctors cof-
fee. Il was going to put 1t aside,. said
the doctor; but, hearing 1t was made
on purpose for me, cen tasted Toms
fingers" famous parliamentary anec-
dote hinges on sugar. Pitt (Lord
Chatham), when speaking, probably on
the West Indian slave question, began
his speech: Sugar. Mr.. Speaker" the
popularity of its commencement elicit
ing a roar of laughter from the house.
Nothing daunted. Pitt began, Sugar
Mr.. Speaker The laughter was re-
newed. but not so vehemently. A third
time the great orator reiterated the
same formula in voice OF thunder,
turning round about with look which
effectively stopped any further display