New-York tribune., 1906-09-16
FLETCHERISM.
Rapid Spread of the Ne10 Theory
about Cheering.
By Isaac r. Msrcosson.

A sat alone at dinner in large New York
restaurant. eating deliberately and chewing his
food thoroughly The food before him simple
but abundant. AS he finished a man who
had sat at table near BY up and said:
II see you have been F1stcherizing"
Yes said his friend
How do you like tip asked the man
Finer was the reply. Il was never healthier
o. happier"
Horace Fletcher the first practical demon.trator
OF the science OF simple living perfect feeding
OF the human body which now bears his name was
a retired business Of independent means. who
had been refused life Insurance account of
stomach trouble. He began TO experiment. to cure
himself by eating simple food and chewing ft more
than usual His experiments proved for him that
he had been eating too much. that the appetite is
the true Indicator OF the bOdy's needs II the food
be chewed sufficiently. that he could live one
third the quantity OF food usually eaten and be
healthy. that the important part OF digestion
is done IN the mouth. and that therefore. thorough
chewing is necessary.
In many quarters he was called a food crank.
the chew-chew man. lie regarded as
the apostle Of polite starvation. But IN the last
two years there has been wide adoption OF his
plan with large and impressive results "FIetch-
srizing'' and "Fletcherism'' have become parts OF
our speech and commonly accepted essentials OF a
well ordered life. Doctors here and abroad are
prescribing It. colleges and schools recon-
mending IT, everywhere people are practising Il as
a means 70 healthrul living ara a serene ola age.
Let US see what has been done.
The first experiment IN large way OF Mr..
Fletcher's plan OF living at Yale University,
under the direction Of Professor Russell Fl Chit
tenden. Three groups OF men-a company OF reg
ular United States soldiers. coterte OF professors
and athletes IN training-lived a simple.
restricted diet and ate only what their stomachs
cTaved. for six months. During that time their
working efficiency increased from 90 TO 200 per
cent. and at the end OF the experiment they were
healthier and stronger than when they began.
Professor Otto E'elin. of the Massachusetts Cen
eral Hospital working IN the laboratory OF the
Mclean Asylum for the Insane at waverley. then
eIperimented on thrty-fve subjects. In each case
there was increased efficiency a small amount
OF food properly eaten. and therefore properly d.
gested.
What Mr.. Fletcher preached IN books and talks
a very simple thng-it meant eating only what
the appetite indicated and chewing Il thoroughly.
Hence many people began TO chew their food. In
England they called Il "munchng." The smart
set" took IL up and had "munching parties" Out
OF this wave Of eating reform started By one man
there resulted a permanent campaign for proper
eating which has enlisted the aid OF distinguished
people IN both England and the United States and
has recently spread 20 Europe. As people began
to learn how 10 eat properly. they discovered that
their physical wellbeing constantly improved
At missionary college Nashville. Tenn.
the students pay their pay through school by work