springing from the bosom of Mother Earth, and electri-
fied with nature's invigorating elements, furnish us with a
ready, unalloyed banquet innocent of the elements of
cruelty, and the environments attending untimely death.
Comparison, there can be none ; the contrast in any form
we choose to observe it, of labor, economy, care, or
expense, defies contradiction.
In our food supply is also our materia medica, in suitable
combinations, with water, air, and sunshine. Earth and
all its blessings are for us to appropriate, and the same
substances that will keep us in health will also restore us
if ill, this latter condition being entirely unnatural and
sinful.
" Self-preservation is the first law of nature." Self-
destruction has been, and is the rule. An improved
version would read health preservation is, or should
be, the first law of nature. If not, it is time to issue a
new edict, and become our own health preservers ^ and
£ease to be our health destroyers.
What we eat and drink either defiles or purifies. If
we build with clean, sound material, we shall be pure,
iirm and substantial from core to surface. If we build
upon gross and unclean material, we may expect gross-
ness, disease, and early decay.
Let. us then begin to live upon the real "fat of the
land ; '' if not for ourselves, for the rising generation who
will surely follow in our lead, whether it be toward purity,
peace, temperance ; or impurity, war, and self-indulgence.
A thoughtful investigation of the food question cannot
fail to result in a conviction that the preparation of
animal food, and everything connected with it, is the real
^* drudgery " of the kitchen, more laborious, untidy, and
THE FAT OF THE LAND. 43
perplexing than all else. There are thousands of sensible,
educated women who will admit even with a brief exam-
ination, that more than half the labor in the cook room is
superfluous and therefore unnecessary.
Shall we not then bring to bear upon this subject the
refinements and humanities of civilization, that will close
the door upon every dead creature, and open it wide to
admit nature's living guests, gathered from shrub, vine
and tree: drawn from the earth, and garnered from
waving grains, each and all bearing the living germs that
will impart to our ** temples of God, which are pure and
holy," health, peace and prosperity.
Through woman must come this most vital change in
the customs and habits of life. If she be the " home-
maker," let her be also the home and health-presenter. If
she be the queen of the fireside, let her wield as a sceptre
the^ magic wand that will purify and glorify the home.
She will then be no longer a slave, pleading for her
" rights ; " no longer under bondage to pills, potions and
patent nostrums, and the visits of the family physician
will be few and far between. Not only would be seen
revolution and revelation healthward, but improvements
in our social, moral and business life. Revolution in the
inebriate and criminal calendar that would be mighty
revelations to that large portion of humanity who are
striving to " make the world better."
THE HUMANE SIDE.
After what has been said of the physical effects of
meat-eating there is room for a few words on another
phase of the question. Man would seem to be the natural
protector of the beautiful lower creations, not the unnec-
essary slayer. The arts and sciences are rapidly devel-
44 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Page 15
Presented as published in 1896. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
springing from the bosom of Mother Earth, and electrified with nature's invigorating elements, furnish us with a ready, unalloyed banquet innocent of the elements of cruelty, and the environments attending untimely death. Comparison, there can be none ; the contrast in any form we choose to observe it, of labor, economy, care, or expense, defies contradiction.
In our food supply is also our materia medica, in suitable combinations, with water, air, and sunshine. Earth and all its blessings are for us to appropriate, and the same substances that will keep us in health will also restore us if ill, this latter condition being entirely unnatural and sinful.
" Self-preservation is the first law of nature." Selfdestruction has been, and is the rule. An improved version would read health preservation is, or should be, the first law of nature. If not, it is time to issue a new edict, and become our own health preservers ^ and cease to be our health destroyers.
What we eat and drink either defiles or purifies. If we build with clean, sound material, we shall be pure, firm and substantial from core to surface. If we build upon gross and unclean material, we may expect grossness, disease, and early decay.
Let. us then begin to live upon the real "fat of the land ; '' if not for ourselves, for the rising generation who will surely follow in our lead, whether it be toward purity, peace, temperance ; or impurity, war, and self-indulgence. A thoughtful investigation of the food question cannot fail to result in a conviction that the preparation of animal food, and everything connected with it, is the real ^* drudgery " of the kitchen, more laborious, untidy, and
perplexing than all else. There are thousands of sensible, educated women who will admit even with a brief examination, that more than half the labor in the cook room is superfluous and therefore unnecessary.
Shall we not then bring to bear upon this subject the refinements and humanities of civilization, that will close the door upon every dead creature, and open it wide to admit nature's living guests, gathered from shrub, vine and tree: drawn from the earth, and garnered from waving grains, each and all bearing the living germs that will impart to our ** temples of God, which are pure and holy," health, peace and prosperity.
Through woman must come this most vital change in the customs and habits of life. If she be the " homemaker," let her be also the home and health-presenter. If she be the queen of the fireside, let her wield as a sceptre the^ magic wand that will purify and glorify the home. She will then be no longer a slave, pleading for her "rights;" no longer under bondage to pills, potions and patent nostrums, and the visits of the family physician will be few and far between. Not only would be seen revolution and revelation healthward, but improvements in our social, moral and business life. Revolution in the inebriate and criminal calendar that would be mighty revelations to that large portion of humanity who are striving to " make the world better."
THE HUMANE SIDE.
After what has been said of the physical effects of meat-eating there is room for a few words on another phase of the question. Man would seem to be the natural protector of the beautiful lower creations, not the unnecessary slayer. The arts and sciences are rapidly devel-