The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-09-11

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vegetarianism. Notwithstanding the
scientific argument on which it builds
its theory. and the strenuous efforts
made last year at the London Interts-
tional Health Exhibition TO populariss
the method by means Of six-penny dia-
ners. has somehow failed to impress the
general public. Hitherto the eating
houses conducted on vegetarian princi-
pies and the public lectures delivered in
the same interest have appealed, almost
exclusively, to the convenience, tastes
and necessities of clerks and mechanics
But reforms seldom spread widely and
rapidly in this country, unless initiated
or at least encouraged, by wealthy peo-
pie. And among these vegctarianism
has much to contend with.
1t is unpleasant to go about branded
as an ''srian" of any kind; hospitable
hosts and hostesses are naturally dis
tressed to have to entertain guests who
steadily refuse soup. fish, entrees ana
rOti, and attract to themselves furtive
glances of wonder or concern by per-
sistant abstinence from every comesti-
ble save green peas and salad; nor is it
easy for the uninitiated. even with the
best cuisine ut command, to provide for
eccentric convives dishes from which
animal products are wholly excluded.
The vegetarian, therefore, if he b.
rigid and consistent in his practice,
speedily drops out of the dining lists Of
most of his unregenerate friends; he
becomes a marked man. and even his
sanity is sometimes held in question BY
cOnventionallv-miaded acquaintance
who are unamenable to the persuasive
ness of economical statistics or of chem
zeal analyses. 1t is, therefore, not to be
wondered at that an elect few only
among the most strong minded and en-
thusiastic in this faithless generation
have courage and artlOr sufficient to faco
opposition tacit and over, with which
the gospel of vegetarianism is generally
assailed, and that the tendency of all
thOrOugh-goers in the cult is to stink
into the retirement CT country life,
whence, when the bugle call of their
society sounds, they flock together tn
the metropolis or to some provincial
town, hold their annual meeting, de-
liver imprisoned exhOrtations to in
guisitive and bewildered audiences,
banquet daily on mushrooms and mac
aroni. and depart again, invigoratef
and cheered. to their rural hermitages.
All this is inevitable SO long as the
partisans OF very worthy reform in
sist upon the retention of a name and o
programme which, for mary excellent
reasons, are repeilent to the majority of
sociable people, and which are inappli-
cable to the views and practice of ma
jOrity of professed adherents of the
propaganda in question.
Most sO-called ''vegetarians" are not
really vegetarians at all. Their maca-
roni is stewed in milk and sprinkled
with Parmesan cheese, their new pOta-
toes are served au berre, and-mj,a able
d;ctu-fish even sometimes finds it's way,
i'm the shape of oyster patties, or of the
vet more fragrant fiet de sole or prawn
curry, to the tables of Pythagoreans
whose area gate the hand of the butcher
boy never communicates.
AkreOphagy non flesh eating -
would. in inEumerable eases, prove ac-
ceptable, and secure generous cOunte-
nances where the sterner evangel of
vegetarianism is doomed to- rejection.
We may still be happy with eggs. milk,
cream, butter, cheese and the products
Of the Sea, even in the event of the
abolition of slaughter houses and bat
tues. Our own near relatives, tho
monkeys, whom Darwiniaa vegetarians
are wont 10 hold up to u.s. - examples
of abstinence, do not abjure buns or
sponge cakes, and in their native woods
they are well known to be terrible egg
steafers.
Flesh and blood, in their grosser and
more repulsive forms, may be avoided
with advantage alike to the interests Of
health, economy, sentiment and saDi-
tary considerations; but experience AMI
reason bear testimony to the.6esirability.
if not to the absolute necessity of retaiE-
ing the services of the dairy and fishing
crafts The varying climate OF the zon0
in which we live, our active habits and
the nervous exhaustion entailed on most
of US by perpetual struggle for exist
tenee, compel us to INCEST larger
amount of stimulating and concentrated
food than is necessary to the contem-
plative and indOlent races of hotter
countries.
We may indeed admit, With Ovid and
Shelby, that the best and almost ideab
diet for man is one composed purely
of fruit and grain; but then. an ideal
climate and an ideal. existence are the
imperative conditions OF such an Area
dian mode of sustenance. Unfortu--
nately we are not Arcadians; nor do we
lead the reposeful life Of our fruit-eating
pxoeenitors of the Golden Age; pine
apples. pomegranates and pippins. III
purchased plentifully enough to sup
port exhausted pature without other aid.
would entail heavy demands on the
purse; aud mere pulse. or pease pud-
etisg, cheap and nutritious though they
may be, tempt us. not We must have
s.v0ry and tOothseme edibles, dainty
served and pleasant to the smell, charm
fnsly varied and favored secasnduna ar
tssa.-N. y HeraM
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