Many of the most learned philosophers held eggs in
a kind of respect approaching to veneration, because
they saw in them the emblem of the world and the
four elements. The shell, they said, represented the
earth ; the white, wrater ; the yolk, fire; and the air was
found under the shell.
In India and Syria, there was less scruple about
swallowing a few eggs; but the hens were devoutly
worshipped, because the world is indebted to them
for chickens.
The Greeks and Romans, although more reason¬
able, felt, however, a trifling weakness for eggs, not
exempt from superstition. They already made use of
them in their sacrifices, and carried them with great
pomp in the festivals of Ceres. For them it was also
a symbol of the universe, and an expiation would not
have been complete if some eggs had not been broken
on the altar of the irritated gods.
It appears that the egg played an important part in
dreams. A man having dreamed that he had eaten an
egg, immediately went and consulted a witch, who
told him that the white of the egg signified he would
soon have silver, and the yolk that he would soon
receive gold.
142
THE HOUSEHOLD
The fortunate dreamer really did receive very soon
after a legacy, partly consisting in gold and silver.
He hastened back to the sorcerer and offered him a
piece of silver. “ This is very well for the white of
the egg,” said the latter, ” but is there nought for the
yolk?” History does not state whether the heir was
gene'rous enough to understand this “ bon mot.”
The shepherds of Egypt had a singular manner of
cooking eggs without the aid of fire. They placed the
eggs in a sling, which they swung round so rapidly
that the friction of the air heated them to the exact
point required for use.
In Rome and Greece new-laid eggs were served at
the beginning of a repast; and the Roman gourmets
asserted that to maintain oneself in health, an egg
should be eaten every day. They prepared eggs in
twenty different ways; they pickled them, cooked them
in water, on hot ashes, on charcoal, and in the frying-
pan, etc.
How to Test the Freshness of Eggs. — In order to
form a correct estimate of an egg’s youth or antiquity,
it is necessary to devote some little time and trouble
if the purchaser, not sure of the vendor’s honesty,
wishes to make the trial at the time of buying. An
effective method generally adopted by experts is to
hold the egg between the thumb and first finger of the
right hand, and forming with the left hand, by hold¬
ing it near the eyes and above the egg, as it were a dark
chamber, thus looking at the shell of the egg held
towards the light. Viewing the egg in this manner,
the purchaser, after some practice, will be able to dis¬
cern the state of the egg’s contents.
A fresh egg will appear clear, free from blemishes,
and entirely filled with meat. The contents of an egg
not quite fresh will have diminished in size, leaving
a space at the thin end unfilled; and, as the egg in¬
creases in age, so will its contents diminish in size.
This proven fact lends to the egg another test con-
GAS COOKERY BOOK.
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Page 78
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Many of the most learned philosophers held eggs in a kind of respect approaching to veneration, because they saw in them the emblem of the world and the four elements. The shell, they said, represented the earth ; the white, wrater ; the yolk, fire; and the air was found under the shell.
In India and Syria, there was less scruple about swallowing a few eggs; but the hens were devoutly worshipped, because the world is indebted to them for chickens.
The Greeks and Romans, although more reasonable, felt, however, a trifling weakness for eggs, not exempt from superstition. They already made use of them in their sacrifices, and carried them with great pomp in the festivals of Ceres. For them it was also a symbol of the universe, and an expiation would not have been complete if some eggs had not been broken on the altar of the irritated gods.
It appears that the egg played an important part in dreams. A man having dreamed that he had eaten an egg, immediately went and consulted a witch, who told him that the white of the egg signified he would soon have silver, and the yolk that he would soon receive gold.
The fortunate dreamer really did receive very soon after a legacy, partly consisting in gold and silver. He hastened back to the sorcerer and offered him a piece of silver. “ This is very well for the white of the egg,” said the latter, ” but is there nought for the yolk?” History does not state whether the heir was gene'rous enough to understand this “ bon mot.”
The shepherds of Egypt had a singular manner of cooking eggs without the aid of fire. They placed the eggs in a sling, which they swung round so rapidly that the friction of the air heated them to the exact point required for use.
In Rome and Greece new-laid eggs were served at the beginning of a repast; and the Roman gourmets asserted that to maintain oneself in health, an egg should be eaten every day. They prepared eggs in twenty different ways; they pickled them, cooked them in water, on hot ashes, on charcoal, and in the fryingpan, etc.
How to Test the Freshness of Eggs. — In order to form a correct estimate of an egg’s youth or antiquity, it is necessary to devote some little time and trouble if the purchaser, not sure of the vendor’s honesty, wishes to make the trial at the time of buying. An effective method generally adopted by experts is to hold the egg between the thumb and first finger of the right hand, and forming with the left hand, by holding it near the eyes and above the egg, as it were a dark chamber, thus looking at the shell of the egg held towards the light. Viewing the egg in this manner, the purchaser, after some practice, will be able to dis¬ cern the state of the egg’s contents.
A fresh egg will appear clear, free from blemishes, and entirely filled with meat. The contents of an egg not quite fresh will have diminished in size, leaving a space at the thin end unfilled; and, as the egg increases in age, so will its contents diminish in size.
This proven fact lends to the egg another test con-
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