The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-09
IS EATING A VICIOUS HARIT2

Has a man the right to quit eating? That is now a
subject Of most grave and serious consideration among the
physicians Of Guthrie Oklahoma
gentleman Of that enlightened and respectable com
munity-Rchards by name-took notion than forty
days ago oreswear the vulgar habit placing himself
the outside ordinary fooda least those solids wdch
have been deemed necessary for the sustnance Of the
man during sixty generations Of the human
For centuries nothing has been better established than
the doctrine that doctors differ in this instance
all Of them agree that Richards nsanele an
crminaly wrong in esehewng the browning habit
ancestors They say that it impossible for him to live
without eating that in ceasing to eat he is nothing
nor less than a suicide
What is suicide? Noah Webster from whose decis-
ion there be appeal says it is the act Of desgned
destroying ones life. Is it that Mr. Richards
has designed self murder? It is exactly the contrary for
in abstaning from food the gentleman
and of design is seeking proong his life rather than to
abbrevlate it,
It seems that SIR Richards has been AFFLICTED with
stomach trouble which become aggravated by indul-
food that that organ recently proved in swtzer-
land to be nonessena loses its functions in trying
to perform what perform gradually destroying
his vitality and hastily accomplishing his dissolution.
II is true that than two billion ofbe people Of the
people of the world live but does not follow that
Mr. Richards is not entirely right in eating to live
Proved as it is that there cannot be any suicide with
0ut design the moral question entirely and to the mind
pf the writer satisfactorily settled
Now then how about the legal economical aud reg-
ious questions involved? Nothing clearer thae that the
constitution of the United States guarantees to every man
the right life liberty and the pursui of happiness II
is clear from the foregoing argument that Mr. Richards
liked purpose in fasting is the prolongaton his tenure Of
physical existence The question then is that oil
liberty
Liberty 10y the cloarest Interpretation Of the courts
means that allowed do what he pleases SO long
as he does not infringe the rights of his neighbor This
being true wherein does the fas ng of Mr. Richards
tnufe any man on earh And as for happiness any man
that stomach unable perform duties is feind fnca
3hat STOMACH unable perform its duties is fluid inea
nate OF torture There be happiness in tenement
where the not in vigorous action II is the
government mule Of mans anatomy and whenever it
balks Tie very best thing do in order TO preserve as
much happiness possible. is to do exactly what Mr.
Richards is dongto sit down and wait till it begins to
act decenty again
Fasting in an has borne kinshp to religion and
IN no literature justification be found more than
IN the sacred works The Christian church in all ages has
not only taugh it but has enforced it and even now dur
lns this holy season OF Lent are compelled TO so for
eight hours time on cold potato And NOT on1v
Is fasting commended In the Christian rituals and bv doc
tors of divinity but find enjoined ia tue venerable
Tagec OF The Mosaic law.
Now let us discuss fasting from supremacy important
and To most az very Interesting sandpointhe stand
point Of economy The bread ana Butter question n, m
mind is now and always has been the paramount Issue
lie who solves t wl be The greatest benefacto If the m
man race Its solution Win he the solution Of evar proh
lem mat aggravates tortures and annoys Abolish bread
or rather The necessity for bread and the word VIII BE an
lysiunl We would gradually evoveor perhaps dssele into
an eFaneous defeated and spirituous people who cI6
Afe sbnptoousy for year on bubble Il air and pity
tle t-e birds now because they wonld be com
reAed for their happiness and the joy Of their Young
ones 70 rustic Tor worm. an insect mustard seed
wan TIE necessity for the brutal struggle with our
neiza1o- fog bread odvato4 would become true dem
oeracy and real equality would reign forever more TIE
green Mould be taken ohe eye Of jealousy we coaa
afford 20 live IN harmony with the 6ecoogue ana abide by
the strenuous terms Of the Golden Rule An the us taat
now a2et US would be cure1-abor-ta1es ana sickness
ana set remain perhaps. tie lords o1the earth exsau
lom the penalties OF our sovereisnty-a hama to throat