Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1865-01-13
THE. CITY.

LIE. IL i \: =
As ExrrAoErlIim ErIsrLr--" The GRrArEfr
DIsroyflA' or 'fHe AGH I'VE have BEEN iavogc!
with the following communication from gentleman.
who claims to have male the ''greucst discovery Of
t3!c aycH-at least as regards eating. Iii, method
evinces scInar.able proof Of the truisu that man
is an Indicative anmaI, and shows, beyond ALI cavi,
that he is frequently the habit OF surrounding him
stic with xnries that lc mas earthly need al Of
lie only knew III, ana well afford to do without.
Upon this question Of eating, the development, con-
tanned in Mr.. Jowcr's note are Of the Last impnr:
tance at this time, and We need not say how cor
daily Should the Necessity oec,tr (which does not
seem improbahle), We Yilirespond tqthe Suggestion
contained in the closing pagaeraph Of hi'eolDmHn-
cation:
.'IS Tnr GARRETT u. 18th, lsGj.
W.. Conductor " tlfbh1:
,Sir-Alow Inc space in Your columns To illustrate
what conceir, to be tho greatest discovery the
aye, in the matter OF food aud nOurismcId lor the
.Giunau body. claim, Sir, to be the dscoycrer Of
ihis method, which, ii carried ont SUCCESSFULLY, as
ain In hopes OF being able Ia do, will GO tar I! do
.aNny hr The force al example, with sucl, Old-
fashion preiudces mankind has always held 10
in regard 20 breakfast, dinner and supper SO that
finally erybody may become ID his own poison
eNemplhcation or thc language OF Hamlet in the
play-.sthe chamclcons dish, eat the air"
/ was much struck by the intelligent force of an
article that appeared i'll your Journal day or two
ago wherein the positive ReJGtiUcness OF these days
vas So happily commented upon, and recognized the
strength OF that passage that declared that 'n these
DAYS OF impossible existence our most earnest care
is not directed hoy best live, as how not To die.
Congratulate me- Sir, upon5haying solved this iutr-
cate question, and upon the happy results Cpccu
niarilv and Other MSe) that have accrued from the
same
But, Sir TO proceed to the matter under consid-
-eratioA few short months ago my usual monthly
income from my estate in the country was stopped
Inv the presence in the ncghborhood of my home OF.
the Public Eueiny. The BuOiic Euehly remained at
his most h0weScr, IND my income remained there
with him. My credit at my landlGdys still led
good nevertheless, srd INDUCED in my old habit Of
eating breakfast, dinner aud supper as usual, with
an indefinite promise 10 pay L. soon Is the +. II.
shoGld rake ii into his head 10 retire from my
premises This event not having occurred up to
couple OF weeks ago, my laadh1yI became abSurdly
importunaie in her demands for payment for board,
lodging. washing bill, and so forth, during the
three months OF my delinquency. ] rctorted per
haps sarcasticall) to hereXtrayagant demands, and
dcfcd her.
In short. bitter alteration arose over the mat
ter and TO he brief was ejectc'l by means two
of xhe male boardcrS from the establishment over
wi ich she presided, with the rcquest--not to say
positive order--that l should never put my root
therein again.
Leaving my wiGc's Photographic military pocket
handkerchief adorned with portraits of many Of
our most eminent Commanders, a Statuette Of the
Goddess of Love, copy Of the Constitution OF the
Confederate States and few other diapidated or
obsolete tribes behind me as coilaterais for the
lSDt of fifteen hundred dollars and some odd cents
that had incurred during my stay at the establish
niept went forth TO buffet lhc'wOrld with four dol
lars in currency and few postage stamps as sink
ing fund. ~
By means of borrowing here and borrowing there
| accumulated sufficient sam to engage tlA sparse
~ furnished attic chamber that now have the hon
or to occupy, and to ihdulge liz my old propensity of
breaking my fast daily, by at least tlCO meals, cook
ed bv myself ever the gas. Circumstances over
which. personally had no control, compelled me,
however, at an early stage Of my bachelor and lone
lv existence, to dispense with one of the meals
Nee sav-what your acumen has already penetra-
ted-that these circumstances were pecuniarv!
Compelicd to relinquish one meal | relnquished
the tribe that kdignihedby the appelaton OF ''din
der" That meal usually enjoyed in the company
OF pnle Humphrey, aud, as aConseqnence, not
unireduently retired To my cherries couch oppres
ed with the paugs Of hunger.
Sir, Will not detan you over this narrowing
cital. Rather let me pass to the moment when |
made the grand discovery that Master Walter
says. We are but - brats of custom"
Shortly amer the commencement of my enforced
abstinence, 1 began 10 discover that by allowing nv
ordinary dluhcr noun 10 elapSe ana then per-
hitting myself la indulge IN some trhe, such.as
apple, stray piece Of bread, few chestnuts md so
ON, more than made W, as far as my appette.was
concerned, for the unnecessary luxury OF din
her,
Herein then, Sir, lies my discovery, which com.
mend to my suffering fellow creatures: Abstain
from that useless meal known as a. dinner" and you
will feel no desire to parake Of that OTHER dispeI-
sable, supper and in the stead of the two, indulge,
ms the Publics Obcdient servant does in "a biscuit
saturated. with few drops of sorghum, which will
fully subserve las have triumphantly proved in my
own person. all purposes Of nature. 81.
/ A few brief words more, Sir, and close. By the
means that have feebly described above, have
duced my monthly expenses for subsistence 20 the
abulously small sum of thirty-seyen doars-3
standard that prevailed before the war. This sum-
make up by borrowing-being at present out OF en-
ployment-and i may truly say, that what through
the kindness offriends, and my own moderation and
skill at discovery am enabled to exist, even in
these peyilous iimes. on next 10 nothing.
So far am Impressed with the belief that more
than one half OF the pretended social and physical
requirements of man are but the result of blind
obedience 10 CUSTOM that | am now engaged in the
audac ottempt to discover whether the tailor boot
maker and halter are really indispensable necessi.
ties to existence merely luxuries that vltiated
code of manners demands, WheIthis doubt is solved
TO my satisfaction | will make the result of my
labors known to a suffering community.
In concluding, Sir and whilst thanking you for
your patience permit me TO say TO yon in tie IAN
guage of the advertisement that should you he OBJ
pressed by the difficulties OF living cast thought
upon my discovery, aud 'fry it, try it, try it -
have the honor to be- Sir,
Your and the Publics
Obedieat servant,