Year: 1878

DIR. Atlkinson's Lecture. Monday.


DR.. Atkinson's lecture Monday
evening, on the "Law of Food.
although the night was stormy, was
we'll attended and by many of our
best citizens. The subject was
handled in very instructive as well
as interesting manner by this popu-
lar lecturer. We give brief syn
opsis below:


The Law of physical food was
first considered, and it was shown
that the question of the food supply
was the question above all other that
compelled its own consideration in
the national councils Of Europe.
And the lecturer predicted (for it
was written more than month since)
that England would be compelled to
maintain with all her power the free
passage of the Dardanelles to the
wheat laden fleet of the Don. the
Danube and the Dcieper. and also
to hold her protecting hand over
tie vast grainery of Egypt.


Then was considered the Law of
Food with reference to its physical
equivalents. It being demonstrated
as the result Of the labor of eminent
physicists or physiologists. that
every grain of food consumed fully
in the body produced its exact
equivalent in force, to be exerted by
the body. As for instance. Z grains
of first quality oat meal fully con-
sumed in the body. produced heat
sufficient to raise the temperature of
one pound of water a fixed number
of degrees, or a force sufficient to
raise II 900 pounds through space
of one foot. Showing evidently an
exact correlation of force. And
when the supply is wanting, or is
impure, the result is vitiated in a
corresponding degree. For when
the builders of the Isthmus railroad
issued orders to their men to eat lit
tie, they at the same time ordered
them to do less work than usual.
And each tie laid cost them a life of
a man, because the food supply was
necessarily inadequate. Physicians
too, all know that the majority of
s'evils that flesh is heir to" is the re-
suit of insufficient or impure food.
This Law is true also as applied
mentally, morally and politically.


Shakespeare, genius as he was, was
what he was, as the result of this
very Law. His works are what they
are, and irresistibly too, by reason of
what his mind fed upon in those
tragic times in which he lived. The
prototypes of all his works are found
in the history to the times, and re-
quired but his monster mind to
mould them. Simply reference to
the life of Sir Walter Scott is suffi-
cient to show the same truth in re-
gard to his wonderful works.
Again, Bunyon had but the Bible
and one other book to prepare him
for writing his pilgrims Progress,
and "Holy War;" the two most pop
uiar books in the English language.
And Milton clearly discloses from
whence his inspiration in his most
sublime of all epics.


Again in nations, England is
founded on the Bible, which from
the time of Wickiff up to the present
time manifests itself in all the vari-
Gus phrases Of her national life. So,
also, the United States and Ger
many, show the same thing; while
there is not time to notice the same
lesson of supply and result in the
other nations.


So too does the moral food which
the young especially receive. just as
surely produce its legitimate fruit.
No idea of course of the lecture can
be given in this short space. but the
above are a few of the lines of
thought pursued.