Every man has experienced the feeling of debility
which attends hunger but a little longer unsatisfied
than usual^ and how swift and lively is the revival
of every function of the mind as well as body
which follows its proper gratification. The diffi-
culty of awakening the intelligence of a poorly fed
child compared with that of a well-nourished one is
known to every observant teacher in schools. In-
tellectual productions which are born not as litera-
258
EVILS OF INSUFFICIENCY
ture should always and only be of the souTs going
to it^ as the hart to the water brooks^ but of the
howling of the dogs of hunger^ betray no less
plainly their miserable origin.
Thinkings like actings requires a good substratum
of physical nourishment. Genius^ though it has
sometimes turned to vegetarianism^ is rarely found
adhering to it — all its greatest works have been
achieved on a basis of generous diet. This is not
all. Where the body is debilitated by hunger the
affections also are necessarily dull and little excit-
able to anything better than sensualities.
Every man who has been compelled to undergo
the hardships of fastings whether by poverty or the
exigencies of travel in remote places^ knows the
gradual inroad of cross-grained views^ indolence
and recklessness^ the crowding and deadly evil
which comes of insufficient nourishment is accord-
ingly the vitiation of marHs moral nature — and
what a lesson is there in this for the home mission-
aries, It is no less vain than aggravating to
preach faith and loving-kindness where father and
mother and children be huddled together in the
pains and apathy of hunger. To the starving^
religion may well appear folly and hypocrisy^ nor
is it any marvel that it should fail to interest
them.
Every one knows how unamiable even the best fed
are liable to become if kept too long waiting for
259
EATING A DUTY
their meals — how inojccessible they are at such times
to appeals which after dinner meet most grac%ous
response. Is it s^irprising then that religious truth
should find more indifference than welcome among
the hungry and half nourished ? It is dijfficult for
et famished man to believe that there is a Father in
Heaven till he feels he has brothers on earth.
Grindon
Qcr
EATING A DUTY^
No one need think ill of eating or of any of its
associations^ except the abuse. Good substantial
wholesome food^ properly cooked and neatly served
upj is one of the highest proofs and privileges of
civilization ; it is a criterion of every well-conducted
household^ and of every true and clever wife ; while
the legitimate enjoyment of it is one of the most
honest and innocent of pleasures.
All sensible and good-natured people are fond of
eating; and one of the pleasantest things it is
possible either to feel in oneself or to witness in
another — is a healthy and natural readiness for the
bounties of the table.
To satisfy nature without surfeiting it^ is one
of the foremost of the good works’"'* we are re-
quired to enact.
Thankful enjoyment of our daily bread is no
small part of Christianity.
260
EATING A DUTY
If lying Ups be an abomination to the
Lord^'" so is the ingratitude of asceticism; and
infinitely more so the dyspepsia which disables the
intemperate from the great universal duty of all
mankind, to have a good appetite.’^''
Page 76
Presented as published in 1909. 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
Every man has experienced the feeling of debility which attends hunger but a little longer unsatisfied than usual, and how swift and lively is the revival of every function of the mind as well as body which follows its proper gratification. The difficulty of awakening the intelligence of a poorly fed child compared with that of a well-nourished one is known to every observant teacher in schools. Intellectual productions which are born not as literature
EVILS OF INSUFFICIENCY
ture should always and only be of the souTs going to it, as the hart to the water brooks, but of the howling of the dogs of hunger, betray no less plainly their miserable origin.
Thinkings like actings requires a good substratum of physical nourishment. Genius, though it has sometimes turned to vegetarianism, is rarely found adhering to it—all its greatest works have been achieved on a basis of generous diet. This is not all. Where the body is debilitated by hunger the affections also are necessarily dull and little excitable to anything better than sensualities.
Every man who has been compelled to undergo the hardships of fastings whether by poverty or the exigencies of travel in remote places^ knows the gradual inroad of cross-grained views, indolence and recklessness, the crowding and deadly evil which comes of insufficient nourishment is accordingly the vitiation of man's moral nature—and what a lesson is there in this for the home missionaries, It is no less vain than aggravating to preach faith and loving-kindness where father and mother and children be huddled together in the pains and apathy of hunger. To the starving^ religion may well appear folly and hypocrisy^ nor is it any marvel that it should fail to interest them.
Every one knows how unamiable even the best fed are liable to become if kept too long waiting for
their meals—how inaccessible they are at such times to appeals which after dinner meet most gracious response. Is it surprising then that religious truth should find more indifference than welcome among the hungry and half nourished? It is difficult for a famished man to believe that there is a Father in Heaven till he feels he has brothers on earth.
Grindon
Qcr
No one need think ill of eating or of any of its associations^ except the abuse. Good substantial wholesome food^ properly cooked and neatly served upj is one of the highest proofs and privileges of civilization ; it is a criterion of every well-conducted household^ and of every true and clever wife ; while the legitimate enjoyment of it is one of the most honest and innocent of pleasures.
All sensible and good-natured people are fond of eating; and one of the pleasantest things it is possible either to feel in oneself or to witness in another — is a healthy and natural readiness for the bounties of the table.
To satisfy nature without surfeiting it^ is one of the foremost of the good works’"'* we are required to enact.
Thankful enjoyment of our daily bread is no small part of Christianity.
If lying Ups be an abomination to the Lord^'" so is the ingratitude of asceticism; and infinitely more so the dyspepsia which disables the intemperate from the great universal duty of all mankind, to have a good appetite.’^''