The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-10-27
A VEGETARIAN FAMILY.
ELEANOR w. F. BATES.

| CduSSS WHICH leu tnt OSOOTncS 10 trI
the experiment of discarding anima
TODD from their bill of fare and sub
sisting wholly upon grains, fruits and
vegetables. They had many eminent
examples before them, from Plato and
Pythagoras to Bronson Alcott. They
did not proclaim loudly among their
friends that they had changed their
haEit of diet, and consequently gave
some ofeuse by their silence for In
this curious world you are expected to
explain all your actions to the COM
munity in which you live. Mrs. Os-
borne exerted all her ingenuity and
skill in preparing the daily menu, that
her husband and children might not
miss their accustomed beef, pork.
chicken or mutton and 1t was an ever
increasing surprise to her that vegetables
could be cooked so many different
ways each new mode seemed superior
to the last. Their appetites failed not,
neither did their health decline and it
became matter of Indifference to them
that outsiders called them "cranks" or
even on occasion "idiots."
The modest income of the Osbornes
permitted the employment of one ser
want, and no more in their unassuming
establishment. But they found it diff
cult to retain even one after the abol-
ishment of animal food, and Mrs. Os-
borne, weary of the struggle, finally fell
back on the plan of hiring woman by
the day, three days in the week. This
solved the problem and restored COM
fort.
AS the Osborne family were leaving
church one Sunday morning after ser
vice, a stranger happened to inquire
who they were.
"Their name is Osborne; they are
was the reply.
The stranger noted the well-cut gar
ments of the gentlemen, the stylish
draperies of Mrs. Osborne, the peachy
cheeks and the charming array of smil-
ing children, and suppressed whistle
of surprise.
"When l think of vegetarian" said
he, 81 picture him in my minds eye as
a long, lean, lank, half-baked sort of
with struggling locks, and
eyes In fine frenzy rolling, full of
cranky notions generally ; these people
don't fill the bill v'
Various anecdotes were recited to
the Osbornes, bearing on this vegetarian
habit. One referred to the little fellow
who, carefully reared on fruits and
grains, grew to be prominent lecturer,
and ornament to his native state. An
other called in question the case of
well-known physician who was the head
of hygienic school for girls; it was
stated that this wicked man fed the
young creatures chiefly on bran, but
took his own dinners at a ne1ghboring
restaurant and had more than once
been seen devouring a juicy beefsteak.
Mrs. Osborne was one day surprised
and delighted by visit from friend
she had known III her youth. They
had been widely separated and knew
but little of each others lives after they
had attained to womanhood. Mrs.
Ellis explained that she had devoted
years to works of humanity; among
other phases, she had at different times
served as matron of two orphan asy-
lumns. In touching upon this subject,
she incidentally mentioned that at one
OF these asylums meat was excluded
from the children's bill OF fare.
How did these children compare
with those in the other asylum who fed
on meat daily2" asked Mrs. Osborne.
"My DEAR" replied Mrs. Ellis, q
must emphatically declare that the
children who ate no meat was better
tempered, of more even disposition and
less liable to inhammatory diseases
and it was thought among the attend.
ants Gall of whom were all meat eaters)
that the fruit and grain diet tended to
heal skin disorders, which were very
prevalent among the children"
a gentleman once calling on busi-
ness was invited to remain over night.
In the morning, when seated at the
breakfast table, Mr.. Osborne offered
him a portion of the golden omelet
set before him.
Thanks, 1 never eat omelet," said
the visitor, 81 am vegetarian"
"We are also called vegetarians, OBJ
served Mrs. Osborne.
30 my dear madam I" cried the hor-
rifed defender OF faith. "To eat ami
NAL products is quite as debasing as to
eat the flesh of the creatures itself, and
leads to as pitable results. If you wish
to know genuine peace and light, to
enjoy perfect health and absolute clear
ness of brain, renounce, l pray you,
aooc cheece butter and MILL oil Of