History of corn milling .. - Centrostudirpinia.it

X PREFACE
specimens from the unique collection, showing the evolution
of the various handstones and wooden grain implements,
British and foreign, ancient and modern, were presented,
after his death, in accordance with what had been his own
desire, to the Liverpool
practical co-operation in
Public Museum.^ Nor did
the work end here. As
his
the
compilation of the history proceeded at his residence
(Stony croft House) he regularly devoted early mornings
or late evenings to collaboration— a pursuit in which he found
constant recreation and rest from the business cares of
the day. Six years of enthusiasm were thus devoted to the
pleasant task ; but the only result he lived to see was the
kindly and gratifying reception
accorded to the first two
volumes. Since then, the third volume having been similarly
honoured, the present and last of the series has been written
* " By purchase, exchange, or gift almost every desirable specimen that could be
discovered in private hands was resolutely acquired. Friend nor acquaintance at home
or abroad was exempt from his enquiries on this behalf, while professional collectors of
curios in all parts of the world were diligently circularised. From all quarters the precious
stones and utensils of wood came. From farmers of Anglesey to the governor of
isles in the Pacific ; from metropolitan dealers to African missionaries ; from peasants of
Norway to Arabs dwelling on the site of Homer's Troy ; from dwellers in the Midlands
of England to sojourners amid the hills of Mexico— literally 'from China to Peru'—
the scattered units to form the collection were amassed ; while was also added a stone
certified to have been dug up by a gardener at Anne Hathaway 's cottage at Stratford-on-
Avon that may once have ground flour for Shakespeare." — Milling, May 19, 1900.
Mr. William C Edgar, of The Nor/h- Western Miller, Minneapolis, has been the
first authority on the subject to recognise the singular interest attaching to this difficultly
acquired collection, and to desire its suitable preservation. Last autumn, having communicated
with the writer as to the possibility of purchasing it, he learned of its disposal
with regret. There is warrant for stating that, had his rare appreciation of its historic
value been known earlier, Mr. Bennett himself would have cordially desired its acceptance
by Mr. Edgar in furtherance of so great an aim as the foundation of an international
Museum of Milling. The following letter exhibits Mr. Edgar's initiation of this notable
project :—
" MiNNKAPOLis, November 2, 1903.
"Dear Sir, ... I very much regret to learn that the collection of millstones
belonging to the late Mr. Bennett has been turned over to the Liverpool Museum. I was
prepared to purchase this collection, and use it as a nucleus for the most complete
museum of milling appliances ever brought together in one spot. To this end it was my
intention to secure the erection in this city of a building for the purpose, and to instal
therein this collection, with such miUing literature, photographs, drawings, &c., as might
be possible to get together, the whole making a complete milling museum. It seemed to
me that Minneapolis, being the greatest milling point the world has ever known, would
be the most appropriate place in which to establish an institution of this sort. I feel that
I could have interested with me in this work the leading millers of the country, if not of
the world ; and the result would have been an institution which, in time, would have
been of the utmost value to the whole milling trade. I am much disappointed to learn
that the disposition made of the collection has rendered my plan quite impossible, as I
would not feel equal to undertaking such a collection from the beginning.
' '
Very truly yours,
' Wm. C. Edgar.
" Mr. John Elton,
" Birkdale, Southport."