New-York tribune., 1902-08-31
SOME WAYS OF THE WORLD
PREVAILING DIET FADS AND THEIR
ABSURD RESULTS-THE IN
MEANT COMPLIMENT.

One Of the fashionable fads Of the day is to
atone for an oYerstrenuous society life, and per
haps a too great indulgence in eating and drlnk-
ing by strict adherence TO a regime prescribed
by ones physician, and as each doctor mas ms
own peculiar ideas on the subject and constltu-
tions and complaints vary, the lot or hostess
who tries adapt her menus to the requirements
Of her valetudinarian friends is not q happy one.
Miss A is forbidden to eat just what Mrs b. Is
ordered to partake Of. while Miss c. apparently
cannot take anv ordinary food. but has a strange
dietary made out for her by some specialist con-
sisting OF dates, nuts and various health foods'
which she prepares herself over spirit lamp IN
her own room II is curious the mania which
many ueople who viii not take the ordinary pre-
cautions OF life have cocoring themselves. and
thereby not only locking the stable door aIter the
hore is stolen as the old saying has II, but TAX
ing in the end far more trouble and denying them
selves infinitely more than they would have done
su the first place If they had followed the simple
sanitary rules dictated by common sense
There are several well known society women
who make a practice Of going their limit as
zhey express t-that is keeping up the social pace
that kills''-sust long they can stand X. aha
then going 10 the opposite extreme. take cures
that necessitate the most absolute self-denial
This seems TO be the modern theory of getting (as
the saving isl ''as much as possible out or He,
xo- business men adopt practically the same meth
DDS They will crowd their business responsi-
bIlities 10 the limit, and then quit every
thing and go abroad for recuperation and COM
plete rest.
Even children are subjected to the same ex-
1rernes-they overstudy have their days too
crowded with overlapping eupioyments. and then
when they show symptoms OF breaking down,
they have rest cures or other unnatural treat
1nents rendered necessary by our modern way OF
living. This. however does not mean that the
former conditions should be altered or the work
lessened. On the contrary, like the young race
horse which is put out 70 grass for rest 1t is only
70 make him ft TO enter the running again, and
then the cvercrowdng begins again. and so on da
capo.
in the way Of health seeking should beware Of
they should not, 10 quote homely proverb swap
horses IN crossing the stream; they should at
beast keep doctor. otherwise the results may
be disastrous. How am feelngT answered a
fair hypochondriac why. I am just starving to
death. My own doctor. in whom have the great
est confidence told me I must not eat mutton,
beef, potatoes. breads of all kinds, and lot Of
other things. and the physician in charge of the
health resort that went 10 gave me a pfohloluVe
list which included everything that DR.. z. had
left me. 50 what am 1 to do?" Any prevailing fad
is extremely contag gious, and people who are per
1ectly well often cannot resist trying experiments
with their dietary y have been reading up on the
subject and I have come TO the conclusion that
men (and therefore. women) should be vege-
Iarians" said remarkably healthy young matron,
she declined piece of roast beef. "and think
seriously Of trying the experiment with the chill
dren."
''But you well and strong and your children
robust" replied the old fashioned house mother
whom she was visiting
Yes" admitted the younger woman "I am
thankful TO say all apparently healthy
Nevertheless. have become convinced that meat
Is deter1oratlng 10 the human race"
friend. let well enough alone. and do concern
ose ose "a about ,i- The human Io race The regime
1lne looking young woman like you, is the best one
you tan possibly follow