Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-08


Those who have little time for exercise and
are compelled to live chiefly within doors must
endeavor to secure or should have secured for
them as far as possible by employers, by LAY of
compensation, regular supply OF fresh air
without draughts, atmosphere as free from
dust and other impurities as can be obtained,
with good supply of light, and some artificial
warm IN when needed. These necessities
granted cereal foods, such as well-made bread
IN variety, and vegetable produce, including
fruits, should form great part OF the diet con-
suned with a fair addition of eggs and milk If
no meat is taken, and little OF other animal
food than fish. On such dietary, and without
alcoholic stimulants, thouSa nds of such workers
as l have briefly indicated may enioy with
very little exercise, far better health and more
strength than at present they experience
meat and heavy puddings, beer, bakers bread
who belong TO neither of the two extreme
classes indicated, and whose habits cannot be
described as sedentary, but who occupy a mid
Gle place between the two. For such some cor
responding modification of the dietary is natu-
rally appropriate. But it is vulgar error to
regard meat In any form as necessary to life; If
Tor any 1t Is necessary, 1t Is for the hard-work-
Ing outdoor laborers, and for these certain
proportion is no doubt desirable. Animal flesh
is useful, also, a. a concentrated form of nutri-
ment, valuable for its portability, and for the
small space 1t occupies in the Stomach-un-
other description of food, 1t is highly useful in
its place, but is by no means necessary for
has become partially desirable only by the force
OF habit and because their digestive organs
have thus been trained to deal with it, and at
nTst resent Il change. But this is being grad
ually made, adaptation takes place, and the
individual who has consumed two or
discomfort, chiefly from being often indisposed
To make active eXertionS, becomes, after sufli-
clent time has elapsed, stronger, lighter and
happier, as we'll as better tempered and mani
testify healthier, on the more delicate dietary
skctchcd. People in general have very made
quate Ideas OF the great power OF habit alone in
forming what they believe to be innate per-
sou;u peculiaritieS. in creating conditions
which are apparently part OF constitutional
necessity. laws of their nature, and essential
TO their existence. Many OF these pecuiaritics
are solely due to habit: that is, to long contin-
uance IN a routine of action, adopted it mayb be
without motive or design; and people are apt
TO forget that if a routine of precisely opposite
character had been adopted, precisely opposite
opposite peculiarities would have become
dominant, as their contrarieS now.
Alterations in the dietary, especially of
elderly persons, should be made gradually
an0 with caution. This condition full
nlled a considerable change may be
effected with satisfactory results, when
circumstances render it necessary. TO revert
once more to the question oil flesh eating, il
Should be remarked that il appears to be by
children like that part OF the meal which con-
>lsts OF meat. but prefer the pudding, the fruit.
the vegetables, if wei dressed, which unhappily
l. not often the case. Many children manifest
great repugnance to meat at first, and are
coaXed and even scolded by anxious mothers
until the habit of eating ii IS acquired. Adopt
ing the insular creed, which regards beef and
mutton as necessary to health and strength the
mother often suffers from groundless fore
holdings about the future OF child who rejects
neSh ana manifestS what Is regarded as an
unfortunate partiality for bread and butter and
pudding. Nevertheless / am satisfied, if the
children followed their own instinct in that
matter, the result would be q gain in more
ways than one. Certainly, if meat did not
appear in the nursery until the children sent
FOR It, 1T would be rarely seen there and the
young ones would. rule, thrive on milk and
eggs, with the varied produce of the vegetable
ktngdom.-Sr Henry Thompson, in the Nine
tenth CeHtli7Y,