The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-10-16
Fasting ana Fasters.

Interest in MaCSwtney and his
fast" has waned since 1t has been
learned that no Is taking grape juice,
fruit juices and other light" re-
freshments. There is no reason that
this might not be kept up indefi-
nitely, for it is astonishing how the
human frame can be kept intact with
slight nourishment, especially when
all the faculties, mental and physi-
cal. are kept at Low ebb,
History records Q devoted daugh-
ter in Venice during the terTible era
Of the Council of Ten who saved her
father-condemned 20 death by star
vation--by visiting him once day
all she was permitted, ana allowing
him to nurse at her breast, for over
six months. He was released at last
as the jailors were convinced that
he was kept alive by miracle.
Judging by this ancient Venetian's
limited diet. MacSwiney Is living the
life of a sybarite with his diet Of
ITulJ JUICES anu vi pdhiiS'
Equally illuminating was the ex-
perience of a Florentine, condemned
by one Of the Medici to death by
starvation~-a genial habit they had in
those days. A week after he had
been thrown into Jail he heard the
cackle of hen in the embrasure of
his cell window. She had just laid
an egg: he found that he could
reach through the bars and secure
II without difficulty. This he did and
one egg a day--when the hen laid
kept him alive for long, weary
months. Finally these jailors, be-
lieving, too that miracle had been
performed, released him. What be-
came of the hen. history scorns to
relate.
Cornaro's experience is well known.
After life Of profligacy he was no.
titled at the age of 40 that his sys-
tenn was so depleted that he could
not, live more than six months,
Shocked and sobered at this death
sentenceahe began to study his own
health He came to the conclusion
that insufficient mastication and
overeating had much to do with his
condition. He experimental and at
last found a regimen exactly suited
to his case, and lived to be a
centenarian. attending, as religious
duty, the funeral of each of the doc
tors that had condemned him to
death.
In the book he wrote when over
90, telling of his system, Cornaro
states that many times all he would
eat for a meal would be the yolk of
an egg. varied at times by a little
salt. Then perhaps for the next
meal he would partake of the white.
What a boon he would be TO land
lady In these days Of H. c. L. An
other noted historical faster was st. |
Simon Stylites, who. as his name in
dicates. dwelt upon the top Of pill |
lar for thirty years. He never ate |
more than two ounces of bread for |
a meal, and sometimes would only |
eat one meal day, especially in |
Lent.
Upton Sinclair is the most noted |
faster in this country. He has pub
lished book on the subject in which |
he advocates fasting for all the Ills |
that flesh Ia heir to- Bernarr Nc
Fadden, health expert and physical
culture protagonist, is another who
advocates fasting. In his sanitarium
that is one of the things most fire.
quently prescribed. Muldoon, an
other physical culture exponent also
prescribes fasting to great extent
From this 1t would appear that
MaCSwiney's fast has been no fast
at all, but a clever piece of exploita-
ton. How the average press agent
must envy him the tremendous pub
licity that he is receiving
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