The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-08-22
CENSORED DIET
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
By Frederic J. HasIxin. Director,
Washington. ID. @.

Washington, D. c., Aug. 22.-The
dreary prospect of next winters limit
ed diet has one consoliug feature, We
will all probably be in better health.
According to relia BILE reports, the
German paunch is disappearing under
enforced war fations; dyspepsia has
become extinct, and in spite of the
irritating discipline of his government
the German civilian has never before
had so pleasant a disposition. Which"
says a prominent American physician,
lis because for once the Teutonic di-
gestive organs are not overworked-"
Half the evils of the world, in
Guiding short life, insanity and crime,
are due to overeating,' he added.
"Criminologists will tell you that most
murderers are dyspeptics-''
If we are to believe this doctor, We
should welcome the sacrifices of next
winter with unSelfiSh gratitude, before
our disordered tummies lead US to n
life of crime. For it is useless to
deny that Americans possess the bad
habit of eating too much. Sixty per
cent of us are fat But, fat or lean.
we insist upon gratifying our appetites
with all the reckless extravaganza of
an eXtravagant people. As result,
leaving all criminal exploits out of the
question, the nation has an ever grow-
ing list of people afflicted with heart
trouble. Bright's disease, diabetes and
est national evil-conStipatioE.
Americas Daily Career.
There is no country in the world
where patent medicines are SO pop
ular-a fact which never fails to as
tonish the European visitor. And the
great majority of these patent medi-
cines are laxatives. This is ally not
so astonishing, however, when you
conside~ the daily career of the typi-
cal American business man. He rises
usually between seven and eight;
swallows a hurried breakfast of one
small piece of fruit, cereal, eggs, ba-
con, potatoes, white bread, possibly
three or four corn cakes, and coffee.
Reinforced by this small meal, he
goes out to the garage and climbs
into his car He drives down to the
office. There his work consists of
sitting at a desk and debating letters
Occasionally, he is moved to get up
and walk about while he dictates, but
for the most part he sits in his chair
and taps the desk with his pencil.
At noon he goes to luncheon
Luncheon is supposed to be his small
est meal 1t consists of about half a
pound of meat, a heavy vegetable
such as beans or spaghetti. and a des-
sert of custard. pie or pudding. Very
often he has cocktail.
He returns to the office, feeling d
trifle sleepy. The afternoon dicta-
! ton goes slower. and he does not fin
ish until five o'clock. 1t is too late
/ for golf, SO he drives past his favorite
bar and gets cheese sandwich and
! a highball. An hour later he is home
and eager for dinner. Dinner is
luncheon on a magnified scale, with
) possibly a salad to break the almost
solid proteid and starch diet
| Is it any wonder that this man is
fat and pot-bellied, that his breath
is labored under the slightest exer-
else, and that he looks like a circus
exhibit in a bathing suit? Or is il
any wonder that this average Ameri-
/ can dies befoe he is fifty?
With women the fat scourge seems
| to have taken even greater hold. Con-
slider the women of your acquaintance
How many of them are fat and figure
less? And then, look you how many
of them always eat to safety anG
spend their afternoons sleeping it off
Physical Perfection of Greeks.
J To the artist, to the student of the
ancient Greek civilization, modern
! Americans present a pitiable spectacle
4 The Greeks worshiped physical per.
fection and Sacrificed everything to
that end. And it is interesting to note
that disease was almost unknown
! moreover. that the life span in thoss
days was long. Then came the Gothic
1 period, ushered in by the Christians
and the worlds ambition changed Il
cultivating the spiritual at the expense
of the physical. Ones body became
something to be ashamed of. to ignore
| as far as possible, even to torture anC
abuse. Disease was welcomed as g
divine visitation of God
Again the ideals of the WORLD
! changed under the influence of tbs
! Italian Renaissance. Once more tn,
physical triumphed over the spiritual
but not on the old worshipful plane OF
the Greeks. The Greeks made tbs
body an end in itself; the court OF
Louis XIV made the body a means tt
an end, namely, to the sensual enjoy
men of life. 1t was this period which