The Van Buren press., 1898-10-15
WASTEFUL ECONOMY.
There Are Nnny Mistaken Ideas Upon
What Constitutes True
Economy.

scientist who, ike many of his fell
lows, has a habit of Looking far below
the surface of things. has been giving
some attention to the subject of food
and economy. rs illustrated in the man
ners and methods OF the French.
While he applauds frugality and
deprecates glettony, he makes several
most excellent points III favor of
generous diet Ia preference TO one thai
merely seems to answer the purpose.
lie comments particularly Oh French
soups, which are maze almost literally
out of nothing, for 1t Ii Il fact that
French woman can compound very
relishaDle soup out of water, with a
few leaves ard vegetables simmered
therein. But as good wholesome prov
ender 60 work and bring up children
on, it is not very much of success.
The Saotchman with his l~orridge,
the Englishman with his roast beef,
and the American with the great va
fiety of food articles that enter Into
his daily bill of fare, might furnish
IA most excellent example for the provi-
dent French.
1t is fact thoroughly understood
by stoclmen that if two or three gen
erations of almost any animal are kept
upou rather scanty rations they will
deteriorate in quality and size. If the
| stecl1man wants TO oring his herd upto
nigh standard he selects the best-de-
| veloped, bestnourisbed animals for
breeding purposes. He spares no pains
to give them liberal catious of the
| articles they seem most to relish.
The ques tion of economy is entirely
subordinate to that of securing the
very best results.
The farmer who would attempt to
keep his colts and calves on thin por-
ridge and restrict them to what they
could live on and get along would be
| looked upon as lacking in the essen
tial elements that go to make up sue
cess Indeed he would fare we'll II
some humane society did not take him
| In hand and teach hiTe that scanty food
never yet made IA hrst-elass animal
| There are mary persons in the world
who are simply daft on the subject
of economy. As long as people aad
animals can live on IL restrieted diet
! inst SO long they may; indeed, 1t is
quite creditable III their minds that life
| is sustained on such u limited allow
ance Of food. 1t never seems to occur
to them dat merely living and holding
ones own is but small part OF exist
enee. To grow, to flourish, to im-
prove, to have the strength and vitality,
to stomp certain characteristics on
coming generations is Of much more
| Importance thar The constant endeayor
10 see how little life can be sustained
| on and bow mu"h can be saved by what
| ihey seem to consider a iudtcions econ
omy. Ia striking contrast with the
underfed, ill-noulished Il childreu o. ex-
treme poverty are the farmers lads and
lassies, raised upon milk cream, but
ter, and an abundance of fresh and
wholesome vegetables. There has been
endless talk and writing upon French
economy and Americans have been
urged 10 form their style of living
npoG French models, but before doing
this il nay be wise TO look over the
subject ard see If little more lavish
ness in table expenditure might not in
the long run be productive of better
results in the way of bright, robust,
healthy daughters, and energetic and
athletic sons.--N. Y. Ledger.