Waterbury Democrat., 1901-08-06
RIGHT LIVING.
Solitude at Meals Promotes Dyspepsia
 and Other Ills


 The demands of fashionable society have long been known to be particular ly hard on the pocket, and, according to the London Lancet, they are equally hard on the stomach.
 It is not good for man to live alone for various reasons; one is, as the Lancet points out, that society is an invaluable aid to digestion. Now the question of diet has had an import ance which it would be difficult to overestimate. Man is what he eats at least to a certain extent. This is a truth that ought not to be overlooked at this time of the year especially. when the intense heat demands the greatest care as regards food. No doubt many of the i'll effects of heat might have been averted by a proper choice of food. Meats, pastry, every thing containing a large proportion of fat, should be avoided; nor should a very hearty meal be eaten at any time.
 The Lancet insists that solitary life promotes the evil practice of hurrying over meals with premature dyspepsia as consequence. This Is why society at the hour of dining is of the utmost importance. Men place more stress as a rule upon the pleasures of the table than women do. but even they allow themselves to be hurried. The Lancet says: .no4
 There are. some few happily disposed individuals that can dine alone and not eat too fast nor too much nor too little. With the majority it is different. The average man puts his novel or his T.a l,;, I, that he will lengthen out the meal with due deliberation by reading little with and more between the courses. He will just employ his mind enough to help and too little to interfere with digestion. In f act. he will provide that gentle mental accompaniment which with happier people conversa- tion gives to meal This is your soli- tary's excellent idea. In reality he be- comes engrossed in what he is reading, till suddenly, finding his chop cold, he demoliShes it in a few mouthfulS; or else he finds that he is hungry, and paying no attention to the book, which he filings aside, he rushes through his food as fast as possible to plunge into his armchair and literature afterward. In either case the lonely man must di gest at disadvantage.
 Too many persons, Americans in par ticular, eat at an alarming rate, either alone or in company. Contrast the American business man at luncheon with the Frenchman at dejeuner. The one hurries away from his place of business to bolt his food, and often in- digestible food at that. while the other makes the midday meal real break in the toll and stress, and comes back refreshed and rested.
 Every one knows" says the Lancet, ''that violent bodily exercise is bad just after a meal, and mental exertion equally so. Wise people do not even argue during or just after dinner, and observation of after dinner speeches will convince anyone that most speak CTS neither endure themselves nor ex- cite in their hearers any severe intel lectual effort"
 While one wants pleasant company at meal time, as the Lancet explains, this does not mean formal or heavy dinners. It does not mean that the fashionable method of feeding is a safe method. The demands of fashionable society are said to be most trying upon the stomach, and the Lancet advises it's readers to live quietly on a plain diet taken at regular intervals, with due deliberation, in moderate quanti- ties. ls
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