Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-07-22
THE SENSE OF TASTE.
Ethics which Ought to Govern Its Indut

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1t is the abuse of q natural function
to eat things simply because we like
them, and for the enjoyment of the
sense of taste. We have no right to
divorce utility from enjoyment in the
sense of taste which was given us for
the relish of food. But children are
usually taught from infancy to use the
sense OF taste for the purpose of enjoy
ment and this practice is usually con.
tinued in mature life. If friend comes
in it is considered inhospitable not to
offer him something to eat. This is
thought to be very important part of
our duty in entertaining friends, but it
is really gross thing. Why not give
our callers something to smell? 1t
would be great deal better for odors
pass away with no after-effects; but if
we give them something to tickle the
palate, the stomach has to work, per.
haps all night, to dispose of the conse-
quences Of indulging in momentary
pleasure. 1t would be much more @s-
thetic If we were to prepare u repast of
odors. If we would offer our friends
something which was mere taste, and
nothing back of it, that would be far
better; but giving them refreshments
with pang of dyspepsia behind, is not
real kindness
The fundamental principle upon
which this misuse of the sense of taste
Is based, is all wrong. A child should
be taught that it is not proper to use
the sense of taste merely for gratifica.
tion. The foundation of all great ma
tions was laid in simplicity The
Greeks, Macedonians, and Persians,
when they were growing and develop
ing, were exceedingly simple in all
their habits of life. Cyrus, the king of
the Persians, was brought up on barley
cakes, and other simple vegetarian
foods. When these nations became
rich and luxurious, when they began
to prepare great feasts which lasted
for nights and days together, they
began to degenerate.
This perversion of the sense of taste
and qualification of appetite often
leads children to great deal OF gross
ness of various kinds. Highly sea-
soned stimulating food often leads to
drunkenness, and to the taking of
tobacco and opium, and great variety
of other intoxicants and narcotics.
The qualification of the sense of taste
is very different from the qualification
OF the other bodily senses. We listen
to eloquent speeches or to enchanting
music; we look upon pleasant land
scape or fine picture, and these graft
hcations of the senses of sight and
hearing leave no sting behind: but
when the sense of taste is used merely
for its own sake, the stomach has long
hours of work, and in consequences the
brain is clouded, the liver clogged. and
the whole bodily system out of order
We ought to eat to live, and not live to
eat, and our children should be taught
this from infancy. Mothers should
prepare good food, and set it before
their children with the expectation
that they will eat and be satisfied: but
instead of that, steps toward wrong
education are taken by continuity ask
ing children, What would you lilze?'
Really good nourishing food, if well
prepared, ought to be relished by both
children and grown persons.
The taste for condiments and spices
and pickles is an acquired one, just the
same as the taste for tobacco is ac-
quired. We can acqsire a taste for
things absolutely repulsive, or we can
retain our normal taste for things
which are bland and wholesome
Good Health