Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-23

1.-THE tables literally groaned with
the weight of the good things to
eat that We're spread before the as
sembled guests"
How many times have we read
this sentence in accounts of family
reunions. and on such special occa-
sions as Thanksgiving day family
parties, Christmas Homecoming and
similar eVentS2
Judge George c. Wing, ST.. of
Auburn, secretary of the Maine
Three-Quarter Century Club, has
some decided opinions on this SUBJ
ject which he has expressed with
considerable vigor to a number of
his associates in the club. There is
a reason for his vigor but that will
come along "a little later in this
story.
Far too many persons dig their
own graves with their knives and
forks and this certainly is one
way of committing suicide" said
the judge.
81 WISH he continued. that
some way could be found to i'm
press upon the sons and daughters,
nieces and nephews, granddaugh
tiers and grandsons of the members
of the Maine Three-Quarter Century
Club that they are not doing us any
favor when they prepared big
feast and urge us to have another
helping of this and of that"
I'VE dislike to hurt their feelings
by refusing and SO we often do take
the added helping of roast duck or
apple pie or other rich dessert. with
the result that we frequently pay
in CT dis
turbances and pains and aches and
other ills, which are quite apt to de-
velop seriously for those of us who
are nearing the century mark"
The judges comments on diet
and he has a lot more to say on
the subject-were prompted by his
discovery that there was a reason
behind the request from the Maine
Public Health Association to men,
berS of the Three-Quarter Century
Club-in connection with the meet
ings of the club in 1925 and 1926
to bring their own basket or picnic
lunches with them. The request was
based on the knowledge that by
bringing with them the sort of food
to which they were accustomed at
home they would not be subjected
to the digestive disturbances which
might result from eating a job-lot
Of food of the sort to which they
were not accustomed. The judge en-
dorsed this idea without dotting an
"i' or crossing a st"
"Intemperance in eating has
caused more trouble-yes, it has
caused home deaths than intemper-
ance in the use of intoxicating liq-
uor," Judge Wing continues-and
he is not to be classified as wet"
either. He merely has observed the
effects of various sorts of intemper-
ance during his long and useful life.
In all this, Judge Wing gave
dratatic illustration of the purpose
which prompted the Maine Public
Health Association to form the
Maine Three Quarter Century Club
an organization which has attract
ed widespread and enthusiastic
comment from every section of the
United Subsequently, among
those who are interested in work to
improve the public health. 1t has
been said by experts in many sec
lions of the United States that the
Maine Three-Quarter Century Club
is the most dramatic health lesson
try for many years.
Judge Wings hale and vigorous life
at an age when many men are ION
the shelf" He, and no doubt, many
of his fellow m embers in the Three
Quarter Century Club practice the
rules of health which enable them
to live longer and more useful lives.
Grapefruit each day during about
six months of the year and ,on all
other DAYS fruit in some other form,
is an important part of the Judges
daily diet-this usually at breakfast.
Bread and eggs are the other prin-
cipal items of the morning meal. A
substantial noon day meal of vege-
tables and meat is followed In the
evening by a light repast-and then
the Judge sleeps soundly from about
10 O'Clock until morning.
For exercise-he walks two or
three miles each day. Although
there is an automobile at his dispo-
al. he prefers walking III the open
mir ard thus the trip lie made be-