The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-02-01
[From the Brooklyn Eagle

From the Brooklyn Eagle.
The newest organization in Wash
ington is 1.-THE Congressional Anti-Eat
society. 1t is needless to say that it
took an insurgent to establish it. No
standpatter would ever think of at
lacking the established custom of eat
ing. Representative Victor Murdoch
of. Kansas is the inventor and founder
of the Anti-Eat society. Mr.. Murdoch
has insurged against whole lot of
things since he has been in congress
and now he has insurged against the
consumption of food.
Already there are q number of
active members of this new -organiza-
ton. 1t has no officers, but everybody
tacitly recognizes Murdoch as its guide
and prophet. Likewise, he is a first
class exhibit illustrating what the
anti-eat movement can accomplish.
At the last session of congress the
Kansas insurgent assumed the roly-
poly proportions of young balloon.
Despite the fact that his had been a
career of strenuous protest, against
congressional conditions in general,
Murdoch was rapidly becoming a fat
man. He seemed to thrive on turmoil
and trouble. Flesh had been creeping
upon him so stealthily that he did not
realize his bulk until one day a friend
who saw him Fastening toward the
capitol, to be present at a rollcaH in
the house, remarked that he wad dled
like Serene Payne.
He Learns He Waddles.
''You mean 1 walk, not waddle,"
said Murdock severely.
81 mean waddle,'' said his friend,
emphatically.
Mr.. Murdoch entered the house,
thinking more about this blunt accu-
sation than he did about the rollcall-
He could not get 1t out of his head.
Finally he took the matter SO much
to heart that he dropped a cent in a
weighing machine and watched the
hand on the dial creep steadily around
until it reached the figure 231.
1.-Two hundred and thirty lone
pounds" whispered Mr.. Murdoch to
himself in an awed voice. Then he
set his lips grim1y and walked away,
deeply thoughtful.
When the present session of con-
gress opened a well groomed young
man, whose cutaway coat fell straight
and smooth, without a single trans
verse wrinkle. entered the hall of the
house and seated himself in the chair
reserved for Victor Murdoch. His
skin was clear, his eye bright and he
wore an air of jauntiness. For some
Then one by one it suddenly dawned
on his fellow members that a new
Murdoch had appeared on the scene.
They crowded around him and in
spected him with admiration and envy.
Joins Anti-Fat Club.
For heavens sake, tell US the
recipe, Victor" they said in chorus.
Join my Anti-Eat society, promise
to obey the rules and I'll give you the
best tip that was ever handed to a
fat man." replied Murdoch.
Whereupon the Kansan proceeded
to expound his doctrine of how to get
thin. Some of the members shook
their heads sadly when they learned
that self denial was the principal re-
quirement, but others at heart jealous
of the amazing transformation in Muir
dock, set their jaws and made a sol
enn resolve to follow in his footsteps.
From a top weight of 231 pounds
Murdoch has descended to $50. Fifty
one pounds of flesh had disappeared
from his person and he felt better
than ever before in his life. Likewise,
1t is true that none of his old clothes
would fit him, but he did not be-
grudge the extra expense of getting
an entirely new wardrobe.
This was a staggering program for
some of the recruits to the Anti-Eat
society, but they are carrying it out
resolute1y. Mr.. Murdock's single meal
is eaten each day at $50 o'clock in
the evening He works all day with
out breakfast or lunch. He admits
that at about o'clock in the after
noon the pangs of hunger frequently
become almost agonizing, but when he
feels the temptation to yield he sim
ply surveys his new figure, remem-
bers the cause of it and steels himself
anew. ts n 1888
lone of the most satisfactory things
about my scheme, say Mr.: Murdoch,
sin addition to the joy of losing fifty
pounds that did not want, is the fact
that when do eat everything tastes
SO much better than, it used to. 1t is
really surprising to discover how the
sense of taste becomes sharpened
when a man ceases to be a heavy
eater. This also applies to the sense
of SMELL I don't eat nearly so much
as I once did, but everything tastes a
hundred times better"