LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 235 



and the coat would be just as good without it. All 

 that the padding does, is to add to the beauty of its 

 appearance. So of the fat : it contributes nothing 

 to the health and strength of the body ; nor does it 

 form a necessary part of the body : it might be all 

 cut away without detriment to the body, and even, 

 if it were not for the skin which covers it, almost 

 without pain : it has nothing whatever to do with 

 the body, saving only as it adds to the beauty of sym- 

 metrical proportion to external appearance: it 

 has no more concern with the health and strength 

 of the body, than the coat-padding has with the 

 texture of the cloth whereof the coat is made. 



I know, that in the leanest persons there is still 

 a certain portion of fat deposited in particular parts, 

 as behind the eye, &c. ; but this is merely for the 

 purpose of giving to the tout ensemble of the body 

 a certain appearance of symmetry and beauty of 

 outline. What, for instance, has the fat behind the 

 eye to do with the power of seeing ? But, without 

 it, the eye would have the disagreeable and sinister 

 appearance of being sunken too deeply in the head. 



He, therefore, who eats too much, even though 

 he assimilates what he eats, and should be fortunate 

 enough to escape apoplexy and some other deadly 

 diseases, does not add a single iota's worth to his 



