The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-03-30
Peter Cooper on Health,

On q pretty cold afternoon in February,
rang at Mr.. Peter Cooper's door, and having
entered the house, was shown into his study
on the ground floor Evidently ! had dis
turbed light slumber, and though sorry for
personally, / perceived no shade Of annoy
ance on Mr.. COoper's cOuntenance. Politely
as ever he received his visitor.
As we sat ON opposite sides Of the table,
codld not help noticing this venerable man S
hale and cheerful cOuntenance. Not a trace
of langur about il, neither want of cheerful
ness nor want of health could be found.
Il am pleased with your paper" began
Mr. Cooper; something is needed To call
the attention of the public to the import
ance of your questions. People think they can
live anywhere, but if they mean to be happy
and live long, they had better pay attention
to their way of living. Now. l drink milk
in the morning and at night, and have milk
by my bed through the night. / rememb r
well the story of the old Scotch doctor, who
told his Irish parents that man mau'n be
twoice a child and mau'n ha' twoice q
child's food IL suits me well this child S
food, and / am sure / owe my excellent
health to it. rise in good time and go out
whenever / can. take light lunch, and
my dinner at o'clock. 1t is not so much
meat eat, as other healthy food. With
out pretending to do anything like diet
never feel indigestion after any meals. 1t
is terrible thing to see how this disease is
spreading Whatever the cause, the digest
i've organs of the American people are in a
sad condition"
Hard work. / replied, constant APP
plicatlOn, fast eating, insufficient rest, hot
bread and too much meat have something
to do with it, l think"
''Yes, believe many people don't live
right" said the old gentleman, land won't
look into it. You rouse us up bit it will
do good; and be sure to let the Institute
have the paper; it will teach some one or
other there"
Il feel" 1 answered, "that here in
America good healthy and palatable food is
great necessity The climate and the
anxious life are great exhausters of vi
tality, which must be replaced. Your
strength is something very remarkable, and
shows me that l am right in thinking we
ought TO be able 10 preserve health and
strength to the last"
az hope So" said Mr. Cooper. az also be-
lieve that man who has lived rightly will
keep up his powers to the last"
"Do you take any stimulant, Mr.. "copper"
mo, do not generally; but it is kept in
the house in case it is needed. People
should be able to restrain themselves.
fancy, however, since lager-beer has been
introduced we have less drunkenness"
REST assured, sir" said THAT bad cook
ing and insufficient food have more to do
with intemperance than anything else.
The system becomes exhausted, and as no
palatable food is near, people fly to some
thing which will cheer them up at once"
well, am sure, too" said Mr.. Cooper
shat bad cooking deserves all that has
been said of il, and l am glad 10 see efforts
to improve it. 1t was different in my young
days, when gardens reached up to Chambers
street. There was better air in New York
then, and people lived healthier, satisfied
with far less. > There is much
misery in the world. and 1 know it, for
receive about fifty letters day about it,"