Vermont telegraph. [volume] (Brandon [Vt.]) 1828-1843, 1839-08-14

| prevail. For of what use is it to have all
men approve of temperance, while nearly
all are incorporate in practice? To call
things by their right names, is most i'm
portant step IN every attempt at reforma-
tlon. What a magical influence has it ex-
erted IN respect to ardent spirit. to have
proved that it is poison; and that, there
lore Its habitual, even though moderate
use, is lntemperance? True, 1t is not so
easy to draw the line between temperance
and excess in food, as in alcoholic drinks
because we cannot engrave total 0bsti-
semee upon the former, as upon the latter.
Still, let US not despair of being able to
mark the limits of temperance in respect
TO food For if God has commanded us
to practice it, he has doubtless given us
the means OF ascertaining the precise ma
ture of our duty.
|. In the first place, 1t IS intemperance
TO consume a greater quantity Of food than
IS necessary to g5re the most perfect and
permanent health and the greatest amount
| Of 0igor TO the body and the mind.
This proposition will probably COM
mend itself at once to every unpreiudiced
mind. For what appears to have been
the principal design of Providence in fur
nlshing US with organs of digestion p
What, but to furnish the body and the
mind with the most perfect health and
vigor? True, there is connected with
the process no small degree of gratifca-
ton; and hence some have foolishly pre-.
sumed it was the intention of Providence
that man should indulge his appetite be-
yond what mere health and strength de.
mand, for the sake of pleasure. But the
real fact is, that this cannot be done with
out diminishing the pleasure. For all
such extra qualification of appetite de.
ranges more or less those organs that are
the seat of pleasure; and hence, although
the qualification may be for moment
heightened. it is in turn pioportionably
diminished. In other words, an appetite
more or less artificial is thus created and
this is always liable to morbid obtuseness
as we'll as morbid acuteness, whilst nat
ural, unsophisticated appetite, affords uni
form and permanent pleasure. 1t is a fail
inference, therefore, that the amount o.
food, which nature alone demands for re
pairing her wastes and invigorating the
bodily and intellectual powers, will afford
a greater amount of unmixed qualification
than larger quantity.
| This reasoning has been amply con
6rmed by the testimony of numbers in ev
cry age. For amid the general excess
that has at all times, prevailed, individu
ais have adopted the rule given above
Most of the ancient philosophers, particu
larly the Pythagoreans were indebted il
a great measure to their moderation in
food and drink, for their health, serenity
and long life. Many of the early Chris
tians lived long and happy, although il
Punishment, upon an allowance of bu
twelve ounces of bread day, and onI,
water for drink. In more modern times
individuals in every condition of life, rich
and poor, learned and ignorant, clergy
) men and laymen, physicians and philoso
pliers, have added their testimony to tha
of antiquity, in respect to the happy infiu
, ence of strict temperance. There is n,
) dissenting voice to the conclusion, that tn
nearer they have come in the quantity @
: their food to the amount requisite for tn
: most perfect bodily and mental health. III
: greater has been their enjoyment, even c
r the pleasures of the table. This vii
sound paradoxcaf in the ears of one &C
dicted to excess. But he has only to max
the experiment faithfully, to be prepare
to add his testimony to that of Others
Some, by imperfectly, and partially. an
hesitatingly trying the experiment, hav
come to different conclusion. But ha
:, they prosecuted it long enough to brin
y back their appetites, in any degree, to
natural state long enough to have az
CURED q relish for the pleasures of ten
20 fperance, their voices would have mingle
e in the praises of that system, which 10
st bids the stomach to be called to any labo
% not necessary to health and strength.
= Again: larger quantity of food tina
y the health and straightforward. will pr
= = duce a dispreportionote exercise and d
y velOpement of tie bodily and mental poa
! erS. God has given TO the human consl
: tuition remarkable power of conformin
! itself to circumstances and thus, of su
! tanning with far less injury than might
g anticipated, the yicissitudes to which it
Il, exposed. Hence it is. that men of inten
~ perate habits, in respect to food, drink,
employment, not unfrequently hold O
~ beyond all expectation; and their cas-
- excite in many minds suspicion, tn
n1 such habits are far less injurious than
"a generally represented. But bow is it tn
1o the system is able thus to sustain itse
ne amid these injurious influences? Oh
az method is, by the production of dispr
70 portionate strength and development
II the organ that is most severely tasked,