The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-07-20
BAD FOOD AND CRIME.
PROFESSOR EaLesToN FONTS OUT
THEIR CONNECTION.


He Believes That the Atkinson Cooking
Reform Il n Most Important Phiian-
thropio Movement-''Crime and Vice
Are Diseases" Due to Cooking.
The reform cooking propaganda In New
York, upon the improved principles advo.
Gated by Edward Atkinson, of Boston, Is
being conducted by Professor Thomas
IEgleston, Of Columbia college, Professor
Egleston's name is we'll known In every
branch OF charitable work, and with his
earnest philanthropy is mingled the keen
insight, dispassionate analysis and careful
reasoning of the scientific man. In speak
ing of the Atkinson cooking reform re.
Gently the professor said:
81 regard 1t as the most important move
ment, from philanthropic point of view,
that has arisen In the last quarter of a CEN
fury. The way In which the matter was
brought to my attention was purely acct
dental, but characteristao;of the subject
II called on Mr.. Atkinson In Boston
about other matters, and stayed to lunch
con. That meal was the most appetizing
and satisfying Of any that had In Boston
during my stay at various first clsss hotels
1t was so good that 1 remarked upon its
excellence to Mr.. Atkinson.
my condition of gentle well fed con-
tentment was turned into astonishment
when Mr.. Atkinson told mo that what
had eaten cost only two cents. The
luncheon consisted Of meat pie, a lemon
pie and some coffee Both upper and low
er pie crusts were as light as the finest
Italian pastry. The meat, which was as
tender and dainty Us though one of the
choicest cuts, was from tho neck of the
animal. the cheapest that can be bought.
"The whole luncheon cost seven cents,
and as three persons ate and were satisfied,
and little was left over, my share was
evidently about two cents worth"
THE GOSPEL OF HEALTH.
! Professor Egleston is n strong believer In
the gospel OF health. He believes that
crime and all the vices, including gluttony,
may be traced in sense to bad cooking
According to his ideas the old proverb "a
sound mind in sound body" ought to be
extended so as to read, "a healthy con.
science and a strong moral sense in sound
body" He says; Crime and vice are dis
eases, or the result Of diseased conditions.
!, The average criminal is in such a condition
! OF body aud mind that he has no desire to
lead an honest life. Some time ago we had
the prisons and other institutions can.
yassed to find out how many were anxious
to earn an honest living. Only small
portion evinced any desire to reform.
I 1--WE then canvassed these to find out
what they wanted to do, and the wish in
every case was for some simple trade. We
got some manufacturers interested and
had building that cost $4,000 set apart
} by them for the instruction and employ
ment Of these reformed convcts. Then we
} went before the charitable New York pub
lie for money to furnish aud equip these
buildings for the work and have gotten
just ninety.fve dollars to date.
! much of the mental attitude that pro-
duces crime is the result of bodily condi-
tions, Indigestible food produces inAam.
: nation and arrangement Of the stomach
and of all the organs Of the body, produc-
ing predisposition to exeesses of all kinds,
a craving for stimulants, ETC.. until the
man becomes brute.
/, WHAT IT MEANS TO THE LABoRER.
/ 81 have been endeavoring to teach the
i people proper methods of cooking for sew
, eral years in this city, and have seen scores
4 of families lifted in social, moral and in
. tellectual condition by the little leaven in.
stilled by teaching the daughter common
sense in food matters.
ne lItlTecb tutCbS hft also Important
Mr.. Atkinson says that under ordinary
conditions the wage workers average an
: expenditure of rs per cent. of their income
in food. By following his methods they
can be better nourshed at n cost eaualiuu
only 10 per cent of their earning capacity
-,The balance can be expended in renting
more rooms, which means purer air, more
light and separation of the sexes; in warm
.er clothing and In education and enjoy
ment; all having direct bearing on the
health and morals.
"The results of the Atkinson system Of
cooking are established by testimony from
all over the country. The most interest
J ing test which we have made of it was tc
!. feed number of growing boys in charity
school on food prepared in the Atkinson
oven. The boys cat all they can, have
grown fat and healthy, and all at a less ex
pense than an equal number Of boys in an
other school have been supported by ole
methods.
"What is the exact chemical process in
volved in cookingi Well, nobody knows
1 The subject has been but little explored
There ought to be great laboratory il
this city dedicated to organic chemistry, il
which this subject of the chemistry oil
/! cooking and like Important questions could
o be followed out to the end.
"This and a metullurgical laboratory mr.,
!. the two great scientific wants Of the city Al
i present. hope to see them both cstab
lished i'll my time A quarter of million
q dollars would cover the cost OF both Their,
are men in this city whose annual income
from metallurgical works ia four time.
that amount. New York Tribune.
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