sume much valuable time and cannot in any way con-
tribute to the health of the consumer.
Cook books are " legion," and there can be no excuse
for increasing the list of those tending toward a true
hygiene, as many able pens already occupy that special
field. None however have taken up the broader work
that is the basis of this book, which has occupied the
spare moments of two years of an extremely active life
in other directions. Pencil and paper have been within
reach at any moment for a stray thought or idea that
might serve a helpful purpose. An extensive correspon-
dence consuming inuch time and labor has brought to its
aid the world's best thought and kept it in touch with
the van of progress and to this is due much of the best
the book contains.
I have personally tested, and experimented in new
directions until it seems a very simple thing to exercise
one's ingenuity and create new and artistic dishes, both
appetizing and healthful, from the simplest materials.
If the product of this labor seems disjointed and some-
what irregular in arrangement do not attribute it to dis-
orderly habits, and class me with the ancient and much
abused " blue stocking," but rather to a lack of time for
•continuous work upon any one subject.
Not to increase the list of cook books, chapters on
various subjects all bearing upon the food question form
the bulk of this work, and will be of far more value to
the reader than elaborate cookery.
To be a health and dietetic reformer in the early days
of this movement meant much sacrifice and often personal
abuse. We were all pioneers then, mostly enrolled on the
chronic invalid list, many of us with one foot in the grave.
PREFACE. 1 1
Correct living lengthened out the days to years. A
few of the early laborers still survive, and rejoice that the
better way is no longer a hard circumscribed path —
hardly respectable — but a broad, beautiful avenue, pro-
lific to overflowing with every desirable, delicious and
healthful edible, readily obtainable and easily prepared
to properly nourish the entire body ; thus rendering it a
perfect home for the manifestation of the possibilities of
the real individual.
From the other side comes a voice. " The Scientists
are now investigating the food question, and accomplish-
ing much by way of more healthful living. Is a more
radical change in dietetic habits really necessary or
desirable? "
With no desire to set aside the work of the scientists,
we accord "honor to whom honor is due," and may suc-
cess attend their gigantic efforts, that seem to be hero-
ically directed toward healing, protecting' and preparing
the animal world and their products for human
consumption.
Facts are stubborn things and at the risk of a lengthy
preface — do not pass it by — I will call attention to some
of them that you may deduce your own conclusions.
As a race, we have "been weighed in the balance and
found wanting" — deficient in health, morals and lon-
gevity. Monuments of granite and marble rise unnum-
bered above the ashes of immatured and unripened
humanity that has been hastened into another world by
the errors of this, far in advance of nature's harvest time.
Over against these are arrayed the victims of vice, crime,
war, disease and intemperance which constitute the larger
proportion of the human race. For the protection and
12 THE FAT OF THE LAND.
Page 2
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
sume much valuable time and cannot in any way contribute to the health of the consumer.
Cook books are " legion," and there can be no excuse for increasing the list of those tending toward a true hygiene, as many able pens already occupy that special field. None however have taken up the broader work that is the basis of this book, which has occupied the spare moments of two years of an extremely active life in other directions. Pencil and paper have been within reach at any moment for a stray thought or idea that might serve a helpful purpose. An extensive correspondence consuming inuch time and labor has brought to its aid the world's best thought and kept it in touch with the van of progress and to this is due much of the best the book contains.
I have personally tested, and experimented in new directions until it seems a very simple thing to exercise one's ingenuity and create new and artistic dishes, both appetizing and healthful, from the simplest materials.
If the product of this labor seems disjointed and somewhat irregular in arrangement do not attribute it to disorderly habits, and class me with the ancient and much abused " blue stocking," but rather to a lack of time for •continuous work upon any one subject.
Not to increase the list of cook books, chapters on various subjects all bearing upon the food question form the bulk of this work, and will be of far more value to the reader than elaborate cookery.
To be a health and dietetic reformer in the early days of this movement meant much sacrifice and often personal abuse. We were all pioneers then, mostly enrolled on the chronic invalid list, many of us with one foot in the grave.
PREFACE. 1 1
Correct living lengthened out the days to years. A few of the early laborers still survive, and rejoice that the better way is no longer a hard circumscribed path — hardly respectable — but a broad, beautiful avenue, prolific to overflowing with every desirable, delicious and healthful edible, readily obtainable and easily prepared to properly nourish the entire body ; thus rendering it a perfect home for the manifestation of the possibilities of the real individual.
From the other side comes a voice. " The Scientists are now investigating the food question, and accomplishing much by way of more healthful living. Is a more radical change in dietetic habits really necessary or desirable? "
With no desire to set aside the work of the scientists, we accord "honor to whom honor is due," and may success attend their gigantic efforts, that seem to be heroically directed toward healing, protecting' and preparing the animal world and their products for human consumption.
Facts are stubborn things and at the risk of a lengthy preface — do not pass it by — I will call attention to some of them that you may deduce your own conclusions.
As a race, we have "been weighed in the balance and found wanting" — deficient in health, morals and longevity. Monuments of granite and marble rise unnumbered above the ashes of immatured and unripened humanity that has been hastened into another world by the errors of this, far in advance of nature's harvest time. Over against these are arrayed the victims of vice, crime, war, disease and intemperance which constitute the larger proportion of the human race. For the protection and