The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1888-08-09
WHY DO YOU EAT2

A Pertinent Decentralization OF Ma
lures Law-The Penalty.
Why do you -eat9 This query, if re-
sponded to by the majority of people on
the spur of the moment, would, no doubt,
result in answers as varied as the indi-
viduals to whom it is propounded. Why
do you eat? Truly pertinent question,
and ono which should be considered as Of
sufficient importance for careful reflec-
ton. A query Of this character is the
source of momentary surprise possibly to
an intelligent person, for the reason it Is
directed to daily habit or exercise which
has become so strongly automatic that
our attention is not fixed in its consider
alton. We arise in tho morn, early or
late as the case may be, and eat; go to
labor for five hours or SO, eat again /;
seek recreation for the eve and. possibly
cat again, and finally retire to obtain the
benefits of natures sweet restorer-sleep.
In and through all this the healthy in
dividual uses no force in thought or at
tention, but is the automaton. This is
as it should be, if nature and things
natural were natural. Are things IN na-
ture natural? The reply to this we think
can be found, to large extent, for the
purpose of our paper, in the replies our
query would bring forth.
Why do you eat2 The dyspeptic says,
"From necessity" The epicure says,
From a ruling desire on the part Of my
sense of taste" The glutton says, ITO
get enough" The laboring man says,
ITO work" The natural man says,
"To enjoy life; to live" The dyspep-
tics reply is a 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 hun gry,
actuated only by the principle that
actuates the natural man, namely: ITO
enjoy life, to live" Why, methinks, if
he is not too far along i'll his distemper,
that expression of disgust and despair
would change into broad grin of happy
anticipation; the dull, listless eye bright
Cn with Il CLEAN of its pristine intelli-
gcncn, and there would burst from his
lips the exclamation: DO or give2 any
thing! evcrything!" Poor victim! In
this exclamation is found the explanation
for his dyspepsia. 1t is just because he
was at one time able and did do ''any-
thing" and "everything" that today he
has dyspepsia.
If we ask the epicurc 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 ''any-
thing" and "everything" q sufficient
number Of times to reach that miserable
existence allotted to the dyspeptic.
Their desires and wishes are fully salts
fed.
There comes time finally for all of
these classes when the dead line," so to
speak, is met. To halt and put stop to
the reckless violation which has been go
ing 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, estab-
lished for violated law and order, not
easy of attainment, but entails for many
days upon the repentant victim rigidity
of rule and persistence Of purpose that
deprives life of most of its pleasures and
leads the poor victim in response to our
query to say, II cat from necessity"
lie is still dyspeptic, Notwithstanding
his efforts toward salvation, and will be
until that salvation is fully attained. But
this physical salvation accomplished, lis our
dyspeptic become the natural man9 Can
he. as can the natural man, exclaim In &C
cents glad and joyous, II eat to enjoy
life; to live?" Let us see. We live to
learn, and, as truly, learn to live. Ex-
perience is apt to determine mans &C
tons. License is only permitted when it
is safe. The dyspeptic has truly lived to
learn, if he has not lost all reason, and
we have no doubt but that the redeemed
dyspeptic will testify that he has learned
to live. But his experience has taught
him a lesson which will, during his re-
Ilaining life, be ever in mind. He knows
beyond all doubt that there is no license
for him, and that as surely as he per-
m;ts any license. just SO surely will there
come back to him the forerunners of
those monstrous miseries which led him
to exclaim: Il eat from necessity
GiObe-Democrat.