The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1826-01-25
From the Literary Gazette.
The state of the Stomach.

The state Of the Stomach.
This organ may be regarded as the
prinaann mobile of the whole animal sys-
tenn, The Common centre around which
every thing moves. Like the boiler Of
a steam-engine, it makes no great dis
play of what il is about; il is contented
with quietly working away in the light
of its own duty; whilst the head, heart,
arms, and legs, like the pistop-rod,
crank, and levers of the same machine,
perform all the snowy parts, aud ge, all
the credit There are some animals
who are all stomach; whose lives are
only one long act of digestion; who
have no occupation but eating and drink
ing. and no sense but that of taste an
enVable race they are, and enjoy the
very quintescence of existence but
you hear of no animals all heart, all
brain. or all legs and arms.
Now ! maintain, that disposition, tenn
per, passion. feeling, affection, and intel
lect, are all dependent upon this very
organ, which fills so lmportant part
in the body physical. Would you know
mans character, study his stomach,
not bis head. Go to his cook, iDvesti-
gate his larder, take the dimensions of
his kitchen, watch him in the market,
and let his skull alone; no matter
whether it be empty or full, smothed or
bumped; so long as the stomach is in a,
state of sanity and vgor, the mind will
be, and no longer; their original consti-
tutions always correspond, and every
variation in the state of the former, will
affect that of the latter. There is an
acid stomach and bilious stomach;
hot stomach and cold stomach; a
phlegmy stomach and windy stomach;
a full stomach and an empty stomach;
a 1uttering, a sinking, and dying stom-
ach; in short, as there is no end to
stomschs in themselves, and no end Ell
Their TO the various states in which they
may be found, so also there is no end to
the variations of character dependant
upon them.
All situations, all ages all sscts; fooTs{
and philosophers, poets and politicians
kings and conquerers, as well as cooks
, and contectioners, have Acknowledged.
practically at least, the truth of the doc
tripe which | teach. The state of the
treasury is not more important than the
state of the larder; the state of the
stomach yields not in consequence to
that of the nation. To eat toge ther has
been 10 all times symbolical of friend
ship and fellowship. 1t establishes a
bond of sympathy between men. more
sacred than the severest oath. The
veriest Turk will respect the life, rights
and property of him who has eaten bis
bread and tasted his salt. Upon all oc-
casions of interest and moment, when
friends meet, or enemies, are reconcil-
ed; when man is married, or when he
Is buried, we eat and drink. Are we
joyful, we eat as signal Of our Joy are
we in sorrow, we eat that we may for
get it. We feast in houor of the living
I'VE feast to the memory of the dead.
All this but illustrate the paramount in
huence of the stomach. Ii is the full
crum, upon which he must place the
lever. who would move mankind
Would you fatter great man, or con-
descend to little one; would you cur.
ry favor with those above you. or, for
some sufficient object, seek considera-
tlon and influence among those beneath
you-make an occasion to eat with
them. You may shake man by the
hand, and tell him he is fine fellow
bow to him in all places, at all times.
and in all dresses, and yet he will mis-
trust you; ask him TO dine with YOU.
and ne knows you are in earnest.
| The ancient poets tell Us, that when
the box Of Pandora had distributed a.
mong mankind all sorts Of evils, plaques,
and diseases, Hope remained at the hot
tom, thrown in by Jupiter in relenliDg
moment, to enable mankind to endure
fate which would have been otherwise
lnsupportable. The fable was neon.
pleie; The greatest behind, '---ihe
Genlus of eating and drinking, power
4 without whom Hope were but 4 vain
and empty shadow, came down, al lie
same moment, to aid her in the task OF
comforting mankind. How inse psrablv.
how incidentally have ihey since main
TN .nA l.