The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-07-02
SIMPLE HABITS


BENJAMIN Franklin, who is famed for
his discovery that lightning is cleo
tricity. and who introduced the Ameri
can colonial postal system, and who
furthermore. as will be remembered.
served America at the court of France
as minister plenipotentiary, was one Of
the leaders of early modern times In
the study of nature and natures laws.
and not the least in domestic science.
His first maxim was; Eat not to dull
ness; drink not to elevation" Even in
his youth his mind was filled with
schemes for self-regulation and guild
ance. and he set before him the task
of acquiring the habitude of certain
cardinal virtues based upon simple liv-
ing and habits of thought. His con-
slant effort was to better the condition
of mankind, and his methods were in
tensely practical.
Since the early times, simplicity of
prea ching, teaching and eating has been
the great factor in the worlds advance
ment. The great mass of mankind do
not understand. nor care for, abstruse
reasoning.
The record of the life of Abraham
Lincoln is traced back to that time
when he was seen sitting on a rail fence
in one of Americas small western vil>
lagos, with a law book in one hand
and with a piece of maize bread in the
other. Abraham Lincoln was a man
of simple habits. and his greatness was
to no small extent dependent upon that
gave strength to conscience, mind and
bod.
Frederick the Great fostered above all
agriculture and the cultivation Of fruits
and vegeta bleS His endeavor to benefit
his people was based upon the natural
laws pertaining to their health and sim
pie happiness. He recognized the fact,
ever since clear to the minds of the
leaders of the Germans. that the body
is the basis. and must be simple and
completely nourished in order to per-
feet the soldier. statesman or the peas
ant.
basis the recognition of the simple laws
of nature. He followed them, and, as a
result, there came about a new man
hood and a. new womanhood, first in
Prussia, and later in the empire. Bis
marcks natural and acquired astute-
ness taught him. as a similar percep-
ton and reasoning had taught Fred
erick the Great, that political economy,
rural economy and domestic economy
are. as sciences. closely interlinked and
interdependent in their relations to the
state.
While in France-as United States min
lister Thomas Jefferson wrote respecting
the education of daughter who was
with him in Paris: "Of domestic econ
orny she can learn nothing here, yet she
must learn it somewhere, as IL is OF
more solid value than anything else"
To his friend Peter Carr he said: "A
strong body makes a strong mind"
Jefferson practiced his preaching by
subsisting mainly upon simple natural
foods, and he labored zealously all
through his busy life for the upbuilding
of an American system of education
which should teach men how to live in
accordance with the laws of nature He
died at the age of 81. and he had not
lost a TOOTH nor was one of them de-
fectiVe.
1t will be recollected that the laws of
Moses are replete with instructions re-
garding diet, as well as in fasting and
religious duties. 1t is due to these laws
that the health of the Jews when in
reasonable conditions is so universally
superior to that of the average of other
peoples.-London Catering World.