San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1891-08-25
BAD FOOD AND CRIME.
PROFESSOR EGLesToN POINTS OUT
THEIR CONNECTION.

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
Egleston, of Columbia college. Professor
Egleston's name is well 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 it as the most important move
ment, from philanthropic point of view,
that has arisen in the last quarter of CEN
fury. The way in which the matter was
brought to my attention was purely acct
dental, but characteristic 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
It was so good that | remarked upon its
excellence to Mr.. Atkinson.
"My condition of gentle, we'll fed con-
tentment was turned into establishment
when Mr.. Atkinson told me that what
I 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 as though one of the
choicest cuts, was from the 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 a strong believer in
the gospel of health. He believes that
crime and all the vices, including gluttony,
may be traced in a sense to bad cooking.
According to his ideas the old proverb. "a
sound mind in a sound body" ought to be
extended SO as to read, "A healthy con-
science and a strong moral sense in a sound
body" He says: Crime and vice are dis
eases, or the result of diseased conditions.
The average criminal is in such condition
of body and mind that he has no desire to
lead an honest life. Some time ago we had
the prisons and other institutions can
vassed to find out how many were anxious
to earn an honest living. Only small
pOl lAOu uu1 W lClOEul.
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 couvicts 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-five dollars to date.
much of the rntal attitude that pro
duceS crime is the result of bodily condi
tions IndigestibIe food produces inflam-
nation and arrangement of the stomach
AMI of all the organs of the body, produc
ing predisposition to excuses of all kinds,
y C:aving for stimulants. etc, until the
uli,n becomes brute.
WHAT IT MEANS TO THE LABOEER.
Il have been endeavOring to teach the
people proper methods of cooking for sew.
eral years in this city, and have seen scores
Of families lifted in social, moral and in.
tellectual condition by the little leayen in
stilled by teaching the daughter common
seIsc i'm food matters.
Tie indirect effects are also important.
Mr. Atkinson says that under ordinary
conditions the wage workers average an
expenditure of IS per cent. of their income
in food. by following his methods they
can be better nOurished at a cost edualing
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 a direct bearing on the
health and morals.
'"rhe results Of the Atkinson system of
cooking are established by testimony from
all over the country. The most interest
ing test which we have made Of it was to
feed Il number of growing boys in charity
school on food prepared in the Atkinson
oven. The boys eat all they can, have
grown fat and healthy, and all at IA less ex.
penSe than an equal number of boys in an
other school have been supported by old
methods
What is the exact chemical process in
VOWED in cooking? Well, nobody knows
The subject has been but little explored.
There ought to be a great laboratory in
this city dedicated to organic chemistry, in
which this subject of the chemistry of
cooking and like important questions could
be followed out To the end
This and metallurgical laboratory are
the two great scientific wants of the city at
present. ! hope to see them both estab
!ished in my time. A quarter of million
dollars would cover the cost of both. There
are men in this city whose annual income
from metallurgical works is four times
that amount"-New York Tribune
Archibald and the Black Flag.