The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-29
LIVING ON FRUIT AND NUTS.
Simple and NourishinG Diet of a
New York Couple.

New York Couple.
From the Philadelphia Item.)
Living on South Oxford Street are cou-
pie who for the past six years have sub
sisted on fruits and nuts. This man and
his wife have not confined themselves to
this diet because of any physical ailment,
nor for experimental purposes, but simply
because they firmly believe it is scientif-
calfy perfect Neither of them has ever
been obliged to summon a physician. The
man in question is director Of the School
OF Technology at Potsdam, N. Y. and pre-,
vious to the time he accepted that position
was an instructor in the Manual Training
High School on Court Street. His name is
withheld at his request.
"I object TO having 1t appear that am
trying to put forward the theory" he said.
This man is OF wiry build and apparently
in perfect health. He has rosy cheeks and
bright eyes and weighs 14S pounds. His
wife. a fine appearing woman, weighs 105
pounds.
DO not think for a moment that we are
vegetarians," said the Podsdam director,
for We are not. Vegetables are among the
last things we would eat because OF the
great amount Of starch they contain. While
our diet Is composed principally OF fruit ard
nuts we do not limit ourselves TO this food
alone, but eat anything, which, uncooked, -
palatable. My wife never cooks anything.
You wish to know how l came to adopt
this mode Of living? Six years ago my
brother, who is row a house surgeon in the
Long Island College Hospital was an in
structor in the gymnasium at Yale College
under DR.. Anderson. In conversation with
him one day / asked what plan OF diet was
arranged for athletes who entered contests.
He replied that there was no set rule. II
Billy Jones won a certain event and he
trained on a certain diet that diet was
likely to be adopted by others in training
until somebody proved a better man on
another diet, when that would become pop
ular. 1 was interested and when We re-
turned to Brooklyn | visited the Brooklyn
Library and searched through German,
French, and American works to ascertain
what was the most perfect diet. We did
considerable figuring and experimenting
and finally decided TINT fruit and nuts
contained the proper elements.
Then We adopted this sort Of diet, and
have found 1t satisfactory in every respect.
My brother was not able to get the food de-
sired when he became attached to the hos
pital staff, but whenever he is able to get
the food and nuts he returns to that diet,
as he will the balance of the summer. be-
ing away on his vacation. My wife and l,
however have continued right up to the
present time. Neither of us would return
to the meat and potato diet.
We are called cranks. but that has no
effect on us, and, on the other hand, We
are inclined to pity the people who live on
meat and potatoes. l spend part OF my
time in a climate where at times the Their
mometer falls to 40 degrees below zero.
and yet / never wear an overcoat unless
driving. And in my town | have the repu-
tation of putting in more hours at work
than any other man. number OF persons
have tried the diet, but few.have continued
1t for any length of time My brother,
living on fruit and nuts, had the largest
arm muscles Of any man in Yale College,
and his picture was printed in DR.. Ander-
sons book to show his muscular develop
ment. For four years I rode a 96-gear BIZ
cycle up over the park slope directly after
breakfast a distance OF five and half
miles. IN twenty-five minutes, and after
supper l rode at the same rate of speed
to the evening high school. doubt if any
person could do the same on a diet of
meat and potatoes.
What do We eat? Everything, as l said
before, that uncooked is palatable. No,
there is no danger OF eating too much or of
mixing your food. l eat all kinds of fruit
at a meal and drink about a pint of milk.
l know nothing about that full feeling of
which you hear SO many people complain
after partaking of a hearty meal. l have
occasionally eaten a raw oyster. a bit of
cucumber. lettuce, or celery. but without
any cooki g or other seasoning than lit
tie salt.
No, I really do not know just what
quantity of food | take at a meal When |
started / did considerable weighing and
figuring but now | do nothing of the kind.
My wife and l sit down to the table and
just help ourselves, satisfied that what we
eat will cause us no ill-feeling afterward.
Tonight for supper l ate apples, peaches,
plums. huckleberries. and would probably
have had a larger variety OF fruit if my
wife had been home. She is at Rockaway,
but it would make no difference to me so
far as living is concerned if she was in
Kalamazoo You see, there is but one
dish to wash that for the fruit parings
and the nutshells. People often expressed
surprise that my wife has so much time
to herself.
at is not at all strange, when you know
how We live. In our home the floors are
all Of hardwood and tne rugs which cover
them are easily cleaned. To prepare a
meal about four minutes only are required
and to clear away about the same length
OF time. We eat all kinds of nuts and
often buy them in quantities Of 400 pounds
at time. We keep no help. for the reas-
on there Is no work for servants to DO
Our food costs each week little less than
70 for each person.
Don't l go out? Oh, yes, ard when
do have to change my diet, but let me tell
you try to avoid accepting invitations to
dinners. because do not enjoy the dinners
There is a society in England known as
the Natural Food Society, the T. embers of
which live as 1 do. l am not making any
effort to put my theory forward and ii
matters not whether anybody lives as do
l am satisfied with my diet and would not
go bacl to the old way of living. | con-
slider my diet scientifically perfect