It is an error to suppose that the hest preparation and support for extra*
ordinary exertion is increasing the amount of food eaten proportionately.
It is generally supposed that u a man has an unusually laige days work to
^rfonr. he must eat an unusually large breakfast and a proportionately
large dinner. This is certainly an error. Large demands upon either the
muscular or the nervous system for the time being detract from the power
to di^st. The stomach requires nervous energy to enable it to perform its
function. If the nervous forces are otherwise engaged or used they can not
•>e utilized in digestion ; hence it follows, tlieoretically at least, that instead
of giving the organs an extra task in preparation for an extra effort, they
should be required to perform less than the ordinary amount of labor. Ex-
perience as well as theory supports this view. Sir Isaac Newton when em-
ployed in his most ardous labors, lived upon bread and water, and fasted for
long intervals. General Elliot, the famous defender of Gibraltar, is said
to have subsisted for a number of days on a little boiled rice. The wonderful
''L'Homme Serpente" of Paris, always fasted for twelve hours before at-
tempting to perform his marvelous feats of agility. This plan not only se*
oures a higher degree of efficiency in the effort made, but prevents in gpreat
degree, the injury liable to result from excessive exertion. When required
to overwork for a succession of days, we have found that we were not only
able to perform much more work, but do it with less effort at the time, and
less exhaustion afterward, when taking a greatly reduced quantity of food,
than when attempting to ao the same work and still taking the usual quan-
tity of food. We have no doubt that a neglect of this precaution is a not un-
frequent cause of the sudden deaths of which we so often receive accounts,
especially among politicians and public men. Overloading the stomach
and overworking tne brain at the same time is exceedingly dangerous.
The man who overworks mentally must be temperate, he must exercise the
greatest moderation in his eating, and must totally discard all stimulants
and narcotics. A ereat share of the cases of apoplexy which occur, happen
when the stomach is fu)l. The increased clearness of intellect which resulf
from abstemiousness, well repays one for all the self -deiual practice
662 THE FLOWER GARDEN.
Bt R. BcNKn MoQuj
The caltnre of flowers is the most interestmg occupation in the world--^^
a never-ending source of delight. Where else can we find for the body and I
mind a recreation so beantifnl, so instmctive, or that will afford more last»
ing pleasure, than that of tending for the floral emblems of God's love?
What would the world be without flowers 7 Thanks to the all- wise Creator'
we find them everjrwhere. On mountain top, in shady dell, midst towering
rocks and along the banks of rfypling brooks. They are as free as the air
we breathe, and who shall say they do not teach of our Father's love, wis*
dom and wondrous power? Whose head but His could put this exquisite
coloring into the Jacqueminot Rose, or design the curious petals of the Pas*
sion flower? Beautiful objects as these are to the naked eye, how much
more so do they become even under the simplest form of a microscope.
Page 580
Presented as published in 1890. 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
It is an error to suppose that the best preparation and support for extraordinary exertion is increasing the amount of food eaten proportionately. It is generally supposed that u a man has an unusually laige days work to perform. he must eat an unusually large breakfast and a proportionately large dinner. This is certainly an error. Large demands upon either the muscular or the nervous system for the time being detract from the power to digest. The stomach requires nervous energy to enable it to perform its function. If the nervous forces are otherwise engaged or used they can not be utilized in digestion ; hence it follows, tlieoretically at least, that instead of giving the organs an extra task in preparation for an extra effort, they should be required to perform less than the ordinary amount of labor. Experience as well as theory supports this view. Sir Isaac Newton when employed in his most arduous labors, lived upon bread and water, and fasted for long intervals. General Elliot, the famous defender of Gibraltar, is said to have subsisted for a number of days on a little boiled rice. The wonderful ''L'Homme Serpente" of Paris, always fasted for twelve hours before attempting to perform his marvelous feats of agility. This plan not only secures a higher degree of efficiency in the effort made, but prevents in great degree, the injury liable to result from excessive exertion. When required to overwork for a succession of days, we have found that we were not only able to perform much more work, but do it with less effort at the time, and less exhaustion afterward, when taking a greatly reduced quantity of food, than when attempting to ao the same work and still taking the usual quantity of food. We have no doubt that a neglect of this precaution is a not unfrequent cause of the sudden deaths of which we so often receive accounts, especially among politicians and public men. Overloading the stomach and overworking tne brain at the same time is exceedingly dangerous. The man who overworks mentally must be temperate, he must exercise the greatest moderation in his eating, and must totally discard all stimulants and narcotics. A ereat share of the cases of apoplexy which occur, happen when the stomach is full. The increased clearness of intellect which results from abstemiousness, well repays one for all the self -denial practice
[illustration: By R. Bunker McQuay]
The caltnre of flowers is the most interesting occupation in the world--^^ a never-ending source of delight. Where else can we find for the body and I mind a recreation so beautiful, so instructive, or that will afford more last» ing pleasure, than that of tending for the floral emblems of God's love? What would the world be without flowers 7 Thanks to the all- wise Creator' we find them everywhere. On mountain top, in shady dell, midst towering rocks and along the banks of rippling brooks. They are as free as the air we breathe, and who shall say they do not teach of our Father's love, wis* dom and wondrous power? Whose head but His could put this exquisite coloring into the Jacqueminot Rose, or design the curious petals of the Pas* sion flower? Beautiful objects as these are to the naked eye, how much more so do they become even under the simplest form of a microscope.