The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1879-05-21

once asked what we should eat in order to
secure the best conditions for spiritual
growth. 20. eat the sunshine," he replied
instantly: 1.-The grains and fruits that
ground" We can not al literally obey that
gentle philosopher, but We can keep the
principle in sight, and cook our potatoes 30
that they shall be like meal instead of lead
We are all quite convinced by the expert
ments of scisntlsts that 1t Is from the undue
extraction Of the water from viands, that
drying, over sailing, Overlooking, and fry
South and West have become
famous. Experiments prove that
very little of the water with which families
and schools in cities are supplied is free
from deleterious substances, and very lit
tie of many kinds of food consumed in
cities is free from adulteration. 1t is little
wonder that Wendell Phillips said, in q
speech delivered in the Centennial yeer.
You can scarcely get an ounce of honest
food In Boston; and if you are i'll, you can
not get an honest drug" What he was
pleased to term . national decentralization,
makes the work of the good housekeeper,
who desires only the purest and best OF
materials for Der family, doubly hard. Be-
cause of the absorbent qualities of milk,
the superstition long prevailed In Ireland
that milk caused fever, and the peasantry
could scarcely be induced to take it without
first boiling; but investigation proved that
the sickness could be traced to milk adulter
ated by impure water, or to that left where
the air was loaded with contagion.
In lecture upon the "Food of Man."
delivered at the Royal Institute in London,
ers and blacksmiths, when their work is
hard and their wages are high,
consume more meat and neglect vegetables,
and from this neglect in a physiological
point of view comes the natural instructive
craving for hydro-carbon, and this craving
the men will attempt to satisfy by alcohol"
Some desire to have housekeepers under
stand the physical needs of the men most
addicted to intemperance doubtless made
worthy minister of our own city tell a COM
pany of earnest women in the height of the
crusade when they sought his advice, You
had far better go home and study the science
of cookery" Hurt and indignant as they
were, who can deny that here was truth,
although harshly spoken, for the subsequent
years have but proven how needfui 1t Is to
use particular and nourishing diet in con-
quering that disastrous appetite.
1t was seriously asserted not long ago that
the success of the German arms in 1870
was largely due to the easily carried, easily
prepared and nutritious food supplied to
the troops by the Berlin sausage-makers. 1t
is IN one sense humiliating. if not ludlcrous,
to admit that principle or nations cause
should hinge upon a sausage; but as long as
the spirit must work through flesh, the
physical needs can not be ignored. 1t is time
we ceased to degrade these needs, and
quite time we learned than in one
way or another nature will have sure re-
venge for the violation of her simplest law.
1t has been decided that one of the serious
faults in the homes of the working classes in
America is the want OF variety in their diet.
Many articles which combine ample nutri-
| ment with small cost are neglected because
when used exclusively they become distaste
| full. Here we need the tact-the skill-0f the
| French, who give us the suggestion of fla
vor, and so combine and vary their food that
an appetite is created, not destroyed. There
| is no savingin the attempt to use food against
which the mind Is set, for that subtle power
| of spirit over matter will prevent its assimi
lation. What an important and com plicated
| duty rests with the mother and housekeeper
when many individual tastes are to be con
| suited; but it seems to me that nowhere has
| individuality better right to assert itseli
| than in the matter of food.
| Harriet Martineau had an unconquerable
dislike for milk, but she was one OF an En-
| glish household where the will or the wish
| of child was not consulted. She never
ceased to believe that this enforced compli
ance with the rule for English children wa
! one cause of lifelong suffering TO her.
/ But in no country is there such waste o
/ the raw material as in our own. such lack o
culinary skill in all classes. Especially ART
| the tables CT many farmers lacking in tn,
variety which might be SO easily obtained
with little skill, and more intelligence IL
regard to the raising of certain vegetable
and fruits. A few may arrange for ic,
houses and cultivate celery, but they are 81
few as to be almost the exception, which
/ proves the rule to the contrary.
A few years ago there was made by tn
labor bureau of Massachusetts, q special in
vestigatlon into the condition of 397 fami
lies of skilled and uuskilled laborers al
through the State. The families were takel
with some care as to their being represents
tive, and the most remarkable feature of tn
statistics collected was the great dispropoI
ton expended for groceries in the familie
of workingmen. In one instance the tots
income was $615, and the amount spen
at the grocers $347.89, more than one-hal
the entire earnings.
Who can doubt that one half this sur
would have served better purpose had tn
food been judiclously selected and wei
cooked. In the light of these serious facts it
plain that the domestic problem is the riddl
hitherto unsolved. A minister formerly i
England, and now preaching in our ow
country, says In late sermon: 'Wher
there is diScord in q mans stomach, there
disease in his brain and demons are in hi
thoughts. We need a Moses in our moder
civilization to teach us that physical healt
to declare to rs that onr bodies ought to
made pure and healthy, IN order to be tn
temples of Gods holy spirit
When we remember that this great work
to be done in the home, and that the mente
and spiritual health rests with the house
keeper, why are we not more sensible of tn
importance, the sacredness of this respons
bility resting in our hands. Some of us d
feel sure that before we depart we shall hav
q glimpse into that promised land" wher
our children shall dwell under better cond
lions. Already cooking is dignified as a sc
ence ~ Engana' wnere 1 .ne es.ao nahs &c
done great good. This school was the gu
growth of the International exhibition {
, 1873. Lectures were given at that time upo
Food and Its Preparation" These a
tracted SO much attention and develope
30 great an interest that the Duk
: of Westminster, with others. planned to TORI
: permanent school, for it was found tn.
cooking, like music, could only be learned b
, | nractica lta