San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-06-08
Religion and Diet.

eminent scientific persons that the vari-
Gus forms of religion now prevailing are
the direct results of different kinds of
food. There have hitherto been in
superable difficulties in the way of
demonstrating the truth Of this theory,
but that mans religion depends upon
the kind of food that he uses, and is
modified to some extent by the climate
in which he lives, nearly all advanced
thinkers are convinced. 1t is pleasant
to be able to announce that at last all
possibility of doubt on this subject has
been removed, by series of successful
experiments narrated by Professor
Huxley in his contemplated book on
vegetable and Alcoholic Religions"
Some time ago Prof. Huxley was so
fortunate as to obtain possession of a
large litter of young children, the prop
erty of Positivist, who desired to de-
vote his whole time to the study of gin,
and who held that, inasmuch as there is
no hereafter, it was not worth while for
him to trouble himself about his chill
dren. The latter, who were to a great
extent twins, and were all under eight
years OF age, were perfectly free from
all religious prejudices, and although the
Oldest swore with much tluency, he had
no thought OF the possibility of the ex-
istence of a God. Placing them in strict
confinement, where no human beings
but himself and deaf and dumb nurse
could obtain access to them, Professor
Huxley began a series of experiments
with their food, which produced the
most satisfactory and valuable results.
The oldest child was fed exclusively
upon Swiss cheese, and was allowed to
drink weak brandy and water. He was
kept in room where the temperature
was little above the freezing point,
and was constantly exercised in climb
ing artificial precipices made of trunks
and bookcases. Like the rest of the
children, he was taught to read and
write, but received no other instruction.
At the end of three months Prof. Hulk
ley was delighted to find him making
preparations for bonfire, in which he
proposed to burn his nurse, on the
ground that she did not believe certain
doctrines which he believed. A month
later the boy constructed rude pulpit,
in which he constantly preached SER
mons denouncing the flies and gnats,
who were his only hearers, for their
fondness for sunshine. Before the end
of the frs. year he had formulated a
creed which Prof. Huxley found to bear
very close resemblance to that of John
Calvin. 1t thus became clear that d.
ct of Swiss cheese, combined with BRAN
dy and water and modified by a low
temperature, are the immediate cause of
Calvinism.
Meanwhile, another boy had been fed
upon oatmeal and whisky; made to
live in damp room, and frequently
sprinkled with a fine spray of water
closely resembling Scotch mist. This
boy soon acquired a peculiar broad ac-
cent and showed disposition to preach
sermons several hours in length. He
displayed a violent aversion to pictures
of all sorts, to scarlet, and to the sound
of an organ. A very short time was all
that was needed to develop him into an
unmistakable Scotch Presbyterian. The
experiment was satisfactory in demon
strating the truth of the materialistic
theory of the origin of religions, but the
unsatisfactory feature was the uncon-
querable tendency of the boy to throw
things at the Professor whenever the lat
ter incidentally mentioned that there
was no God.
The third boy was kept in hot room,
ed upon macaroni and light wines, and
compelled to constantly grind small
hand-organ. This experiment also was
complete success. The boy became an
unmistakable Roman Catholic, and dis
played a degree of devoutness, Joined
TO fondness for sticking his pen-knife
into the professors legs, which filled
the latter with scientific delight. There
were five children in all, but the expert
ments made upon the younger two were
not altogether satisfactory. One OF
them was fed upon pork and hominy,
varied with occasional chickens, and
allowed to drink nothing but water. 1t
was supposed that under this course of
treatment strong Baptist symptoms