The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-07
MAN AS A HUMAN ANIMAL.

This was the initial paper in the course adopted by the Mothers Union of Mont gomery for its years study and was writ ten by one of the most brilliant women in the State. ,a+ .,..
 Beginning with Man as Human An imal," the series embraces the advan- tages and Disadvantages of Civiliza-. ten" The Chemistry of Foods" as ap- piled to the human animal and so on oown through the various phases of food values. Elements of the Body" Its Waste and Repair" Bacteria" "venti- lation," etc.
 On the origin of map I shall touch briefly. There are two theories the Bib- lical account, and the scientific hypothe- sis of evolution. Some of us believe the one. some the other. but we all believe that God made man and-whether by in- stantaneous creation from the dust of the earth, or by the slower process from the dust of the earth up through lower forms of life-that He made him in his own image, that is endowed him with God-like qualities
 Roughly estimated it is about 100000 years since the anthropolithic epoch since man, the anthropos, which is the Greek word for upward locker" first walked the earth appearing first as the cave man, who found his lair, as the wild beasts do in caves and tree trunks, then through successive periods of thou sands of years, rising by slow degrees developing through the ages those quali- ties that we speak of today as constitut- ing manhood.
 What has always been and is today the first and best quality of the man? Is 1t not streng.-- om the first he has been fighter. In the beginning his sur rourdings were all antagonistic to his life. he had to fight his way against the beasts of the earth and all the violences of nature. Throughout the ages he has been fighting and overcoming. bringing the things of the earth into subjection, making servants of fire and water. the winds and the lightning. Not only so. but he has had to fight other men.
 Whatever civilization we have today Is the result of this spirit of warfare. the determination to hold against other men the things most highly prized in life home and its peace. Up through warfare have we come to the opening of this. the twentieth century, and if as predict ed by our wise men, our ethical advance in the next hundred years will be as great as the advance in scientific re- search and invention. during the century past we may look forward to the day when the "brotherhood of man. will be
 
 represents to us essentially strength, and this strength of man the strength to ex plore, to build. to create. to overcome, from whence is it derived? In answers let me quote from recent article on Foods Values: "..' ~
 "We have learned that the body is a machine-a very superior kind of ma chine-that Is constantly rebuilding itself with the good it consumes. As coal is burned in a furnace, so food is burned in the body, and force or energy is pro- duced, and this force or energy is meas ured by the kind of food or coal sup piled. In the meantime, the body, unlike the furnace, is building up it's own tis- sues and muscles.
 'It has been definitely ascertained by experiments that the body obeys the uni versal law of the conservation of energy. | the amount of heat given off from the body will equal the latent energy of the food consumed in the body"
 | It Is therefore the food consumed, the kind of food that builds up the bodily parts In due proportion, and gives strength and power to man., Not only | strength of muscle but strength of will | and strength of character.
 | We read in our histories of races of l men who in conquering brave foe, de- | voured his heart to gain his qualities of | heroism.
 In such action lies the rude truth that we are what we eat. I would not illus l trate this to mean, as I have sometimes seen intimated. that if one eats pig he will become gluttonous, or that beef makes the bully; but I would contend | that our dispositions depend largely on l what we eat Try it for yourself, make | a habit of eating only what Is good. nu- | tritious and see how amiable you will be- come! So let me reiterate that mans strength depends chiefly upon the kind of food he aets
 But while strength is, perhaps, the first and best human quality, man has through the ages developed the virtues of corir- age of honor, of chivalry- of tenderness, of endurance-so that now, when we speak of manly man, we mean one who possesses all these qualities. Have you ever thought what 1t Is that has devel- oped these virtues in man? His relation to woman! The mere animal desire that in the anthropolithic epoch drew man to woman, has gradually grown into the most beautiful and sacred of all earthly relations, developing in both the noblest qualities. In man, a protecting tender ness, a sacrifice of self in the defence of home and wife and children-in woman, the unselfsh love that upholds and sane tifleS the home Ire, III DOIn. lHe bond of parenthood Everywhere around us. the divinity of the human soul reveals itself If we but look for it, Wordsworth says: Heaven lies about us in our in- fancy" It does indeed, but he forgot to add that 1t lie sabout us always through out our lives. and as Lowell says: May be had for the asking" ........ ---
 The newspapers gather up news of crime and we think as we read that all the world has gone wrong. but this is far from true, most of the people in this world are going right. The majority of men everywhere. in all countries. are trying to live honest lives, to "rotect their homes. to hold fast their religious faith. In all races and nations, linen are seek ing after God if happily they may find him" Whether they be Mohammedan. Buddhist, Christian or Hebrew, depends chiefly upon environment This word en- vironment brings with it another thought that it Is well to emphasize. which is, that in spite of enviroAgnent each man has his distinct individuality. He can take from his surroundings what he will for his life's growth to build himself up in body and brain and spirie,>~tust as he takes and eats food for his best bodily growth; he can gather to himself from his surroundings what is best to develop