The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-07-13
The Dangers of Eating Alone.

Tr is NOT GOOD for man or woman TO live
i alone. Indeed, 1t has been we'll said that for
solitude to he successful man must be either
angel or devil This refers, perhaps mainly
TO the moral aSpt'ts of isolation, md WITH
those we have no concern
There are certain physical ills, however.
which are not the least among the disadvsn'
tagcs OF loneliness. OF these there is many
clerk, many young barrister. rising, per-
haps, but not yet far enough risen, many
business man or journalist who will say that
one Of the most trying features of his unmar.
ried life is 10 have to cat alone. And pre-
mature dyspepsia is the only thing that ever
takes him to his physician. There are some
few happily disposed individuals who can dine
| alone and not eat too fast, nor too much nor
too little. With the majority however, II II
different The average man puts his novel or his
paper before him and thinks that he will length
en- out the meal with due delberation by reading
a little with, and more between, the courses.
He will employ his mind enough to help.
and too little to interfere with digestion. In
| fact, he will provide that gentle mental ac'
| compartment which with happier people con-
| versation gives to a meal.
This is your solitsry's excellent idea. In reality
| he becomes engrossed in what he Is reading till
| suddenly finding his chop cold he demoshes II
| in few mouthfuls; or else he fnds that he 10
| hungry. and paying no attention TO the book.
| which he filings aside he ruShes through his
| food as fast possible, to plunge into his
| armchair and litraturc afterward. In either
| case the lonely man must digest at disadvan.
| tage. For due and easy nutrition food should
| should he slowly taken and the mind should
not he intensely exercised during the process.
Every one knows that violent bodily exercise
is had Just after a meal, and mental eNcrton is
equally so.
| Wise people do not even argue during or Just
after dinner and observation Of aiter'dlnncr
speeches will convince anyone that most speakers
| neither endure themselves nor excite in their
hearers any severe intellectual effort
| In fact the experience Of countless genera.
tions. from the red Indian of the woods to
the white.shrted diners Of modern party.
has perpetuated the lesson that man should
| not eat alone think much at this time,
but should talk and he talked 10 while he feeds.
Most people do not think much when they talk,
and talking is a natural accompaniment OF eating
and drinking.
How docs it fare with the many solitary wo.
men Of today? No better, we know, than with
the men, but differently. Alone not, man
may he trusted at any rate to take food enough.
Surprising, of course. that he can getNenough.
With a women it is different. She is more emo
tioal more imaginative, and less inclined to
realize the gross necessities Of existence There
fore, the woman doomed 10 dine alone as often
as not does not dine at all. She gets dyspepsia
because her stomach has not sufficient work II
do; a man gets il because his functions practice
It too often in the wrong way.
/ Worst Of all, perhaps, is the case of the sol
tary cook. In the myrads Of small flats in oui
large cities there are thousands OF women do
| ing" for their solitary masters or mistresses
These women whose main occupation is to pre-
pare food for others, find IT impossible TO enjoy
or even TO take, food themselves As confec.
tioncrs are said to give their apprentices
free RIM of the stock of the Shop for the frs