The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1888-09-15
Why do You Eat?

pie on the spur of the moment,
would, no doubt, result in answers as
varied as the individuals to whom it
is propounded. Why do you eat :?
Truly pertinent question, and one
which should be considered as of
sufficient importance for careful re-
Election. A query of this character
is the source of mOmentary surprise
possibly to an intelligent person, for
the reason it is directed to a daily
habit or exercise which has become
so strongly automatic that our atten-
tiOn is not fixed in its consideration.
We arise in the morn, early or late as
the case NAV be, and eat go to labor
for five hours or so, eat again seek
recreation for the eve and possibly
eat again, and finally retire to obtain
tae hsse6tC.af raturs' restorsr
sleep.
In and through all this the healthy
individual uses no force in thought
or attention, but is the aut0maton,
This is as it should be, if nature and
things natural were natural. Are
things IN nature natural? The reply
to this We think can be found. to a
large extent, for the purpose of our
paper, in the replies cur query would
bring forth.
Why do you eat? The dyspeptic
says, From necessity" The epicure
saws, "From ruling desire on the
part OF my sense Of taste" The gIut.
ton says, ITO get enough" The Ia
boring man says, ITO work" The
natural man says, ITO enjoy life to
live" The dyspeptic's reply is sad
contrast to that of the natural man.
Ask the dyspeptic what he would do
or give for the privilege or ability
to sit down at the table hungry, hun
cry, actuated only by the principle
that actuate the natural man, name.
| ly: ITO enjoy life, to live" Why,
methinks, if he is not too far along
in his distemper, that expression of
disgust and despair would change
into broad grin of happy anticipa-
ton the dull, listless eye brighten
with a CLEAN of its pristine intelli-
gence, and there would burst from
his lips the exclamation "Do or
give? ? anything everything !! Poor
victim In this exclamation is found
the explanation for his dyspepsia. II
is just because he was at one time
able and did do ''anything" and
s'everything" that to-day he has dys.
pepsia.
If we ask the epicure or glutton
the same question as the dyspeptic,
we will find that they are perfectly
content. They have not violated
law and order long enough as yet
have not done "anything" and
"everything" sufficient number OF
times to reach that miserable exist,
ence allotted to the dyspeptic. Their
desires and wishes are fully satisfied
There comes a time finally for all
of these classes when the "dead
line," so to speak is met. To halt
and put stop to the reckless viola
ton which has been going on means
salvation. To keep on and cross this
dead line means everlasting misery.
The salvation that is established for
those who meet this dead line is, like
other salvations we have heard of,
established for violated law and Or
der, not easy of attainment, but en-
tails for many days upon the repent
ant victim a rIgidity of rule and
persistence of purpose that depriyes
life of most of its pleasures and leads
the poor victim in response to our
query to say. 81 eat from necessity"
He is still dyspeptic, notwithstand-
ing his efforts toward salvation, and
will be until that salvation is fully
attained. But this physical saliva.
tion accomplished, is our dyspeptiC
become the natural man? Can he
as can the natural man, exclaim in
accents glad and joyous, 81 eat to
enjoy life; to live ?" Let US see. We
live to learn. and. as truly, learn tC
live. Experience is apt to determine
mans actions. License is only per
United when it Is safe, The dyspep
tic has truly lived to learn, if he has
not lost all reason, and we have nt
doubt but that the redeemed dys
: peptic will testify that he has learn
ed to live. But his experience ha'
taught him a lesson which will, dur,
ing his remaining life, be ever il
mind. He knows beyond all doub
that there is no license for him, anC
that as surely as he permits any
license, just so surely will there come
back to him the forerunners of thos'
monstrous miseries which led him t.
exclaim: 81 eat from necessity."-
Globe Democrat.