The San Francisco call., 1899-08-13
a Stove.

pleasant, and the small table in the
middle of the floor, spread with the
finest and snoWiest of linen, shining
silver, polished glass and delicate
china, looked very inviting.
In the center of the table was a tall
cut-glass dish of mixed fruits-oranges
apples, peaches, apricOts and pears.
Flanking il on one side was a large
platter of bananas, and on the other
a pitcher of graceful shape full OF the
fOamiest and creamiest OF milk. A
glass bowl of strawberries, dish OF
daintily shred lettuce, a plate OF rails
ins. a little delft dish of cream cheese.
and q china vegetable dish full Of
cracked almonds, pecans and WalnutS'
cOmpleted-save for plates and glasses
and the accompanying cutlery and
napkins-the furnishing forth OF the
festal board.
1t was quite evident, I thought, that
I had fallen into the hands OF a pecu-
liar people who preferred, for some oc-
cult reason, to eat their dinners back
ward as it We're We were evidently
going to eat our dessert first. and so.
as 1 always pride myself upon my
adapta bility to circumstances, L ac-
cepted a glass of the milk and some OF
the nuts, intending to amuse myself
politely with them until the dinner it
self appeared
But alas and alas, for the hollow un-
der my shirt waist, which the hour,
combined with the trip across the bay,
had made to feel like unto the Mann
moth cavel There was no further din
ner forthcoming. These nuts ana
fruits and gentle lacteal eccompant-
ments were the alpha and omega OF
the entertainment; and while telling
me this my entertainers gazed at me
with the light of beneficent compassion
in their clear eyes, because in truth
they could not but know that my
grosser nature secretly craVed the
soup and fish and meats and vege-
tables and pastry of the ordinary un-
regenerate evening meal
I'VE have lived in this way for eigh-
teen years." declared Mr.. Henshaw,
beaming at me benevolently-"e ever
since We were married, in fact, and be-
fore that happy event l lived In this
same way ever after arrived at years
of discretion. 1t is, I firmly believe,
the only proper and thoroughly salts
factory way of nourishing the body"
And you never eat meat?" My host
shook his head as decidedly as If had
asked him if he made practice Of eat
ing mice and a shadow Of disgust
passed over his wife's delicately eX-
pressive countenance. Nor hsh?.
Again the panorama of shake and
shadow. "NOr"-this ingeringly, be-
cause of my own schoolgfrly predilec-
tions-"cakes, nor pies, nor puddings?- ?
Oh. dear.-How can you?"
Nor bread. nor cooked things of any
description in fact. And we drink no
tea nor coffee, nor anything of that
kind, and we use no stimulants what
ever; and we do it very easily, assure
you.
And you can live and work and be
happy on a continuous diet of such
things as these?'
I'VE have done so together for
eighteen years" repeated Mr.. Hen
shaw. and before that, as l told you. 1
did so alone. I have found that such
food answers all the requirements Of
my nature, and I believe it is the nat
ural food of man. Nothing would in
duce me to eat the flesh of another ami
NAL. The very thought of Sc doing is
unspeakably abhOrrent to me, and has
been ever since I began to think inde-