The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-11-18
From the Louisville courier-Journal.

from the Louisville Courler-Journal. -
xY o less an authority than the Lon
IN don Lancet takes up the eudsels
for the much-abused modern in
stitution termed "quick lunch." and COM
monty regarded in America as a con-
venience which costs dearly because of
its effect upon the digestive apparatus.
According to the Lancet three hearty
human machine needs as fuel and heat.
A little fresh air exercise before break
fast light breakfast, light luncheon
and a reasonably hearty dinner would
be promotive to health and the high
est efficiency. If the luncheon is small,
as we'll as quick" there is no reason
why it should hurt anyone. In COM
parison with a square meal without
suitable period of rest afterward the
so-called quick lunch has much the bet
ter of the argument:
To quote: FHa
There is~a great deal to be said in fa-
vor of the coffee. and rolls plan and for
men whose day is spent in work which
taxes the brain and nervous system gem
orally more than the muscles, the wise
course is to relegate anything approach
ing a hearty meal to the period of relax
alton, the evening. But that part of the
continental system which involves the
eating of a heavy lunch is as objection
able as our own heavy breakfast plan. 1t
oo, he If alpnlIata time is
given after the meal for the digeoion
thereof. and most professional and busi-
ness men cannot spare the hours ease
which should follow hearty midday
meal. In most continental cities, where
the midday meal is heavy one, an
hour or so is commonly spent in smoking
and chatting afterward. This leisurely
proceeding, however is not possible with
the more strenuous business habits of
England and America, as the quick
lunch institution testifies. Nor need the
quick lunch be severely deprecated if the
quantity of food ingested is reduced In
accordance with the time taken for its
consumption. If the quick luncher is also
heavy luncher,. then he combines the
evil properties of both the continental and
English methods, and will doubtless In
cur the punishment of the dyspepsia
which his habits Invite. But If the meals
during the day be light, we do not think
that the worker need be asked to forego
either his breakfast or his lunch"
Americans are fond of Joking about
the quickness of their luncheons- and
the deadly effect thereof. Very prob
ably the fact that food served while
you do not have to wait is food for
jest, creates in the minds of those who
never eat quick lunch a rather exag-
gerated idea if it's deleteriousness be-
cause of the questionable quality of the
raw materials and the cooking and the
rapidity with whic hit is bolted. And
those who are not consumers of quick
lunch are a majority
All Americans have been divided by
someone into three classes, the striv-
ers, the thrivers and the drivers, Many
of the strivers, by far the larger num-
ber carry their home cooked luncheons
in the full dinner pail' we hear so
much about in political campaigns.
Many of the drivers eat at their leisure
at nome OF at cluDS OF HlSH pTiceu ho-
tells or restaurants. A majority OF
those who patronize the quick lunch
places are the thrivers, who give them
selves less liberal allowance of time
for the midday meal than is allowed
to strivers, who punch the time clock
at the doors of large establishments or
work as day laborers.
There is no reason why the thriver
who wishes to spend only 15 minutes or
so at luncheon, and Is cents upon 1t,
should damage his health by eating a
sandwich and drinking q cup of coffee
or glass of milk. n the fod is whole
some-and it usually is much more whole
some In the quick lunch places than is
popularity supposed--and II the consumer
selects his dishes with a little regard tc
their probable value as nourishment, and
their probable effect upon digestion, there
is certainly nothing alarming in eating
within quarter of an hour fourth as
much as thriver consumes at his club,
or his inn, or his home, in an hour. The
quick lunch that consists Of more food
than is served as a course at din
ner is exceptional, and as much time
| is devoted to mastic7tion as is devoted
| to one course at a banquet.
Quick eating is, Of course, inturious