260 LETTERS TO BROTHER JOHN. 



proves its necessity, if we would possess the " mens 

 sana in corpore sano" Individual experience 

 proves it equally: the horrible sensations felt 

 in the morning after a debauch the frequent ne- 

 cessity which most men have been under of de- 

 sisting wholly from intoxicating drinks in order to 

 recover their lost health the utter lothing with 

 which he who is not habitually a toper regards, 

 next day, the beverage which intoxicated him and 

 fifty thousand other tokens, too clearly evident to 

 be mistaken. The very word " intoxicate " is a 

 Greek word, signifying " to shoot with poisoned 

 arrows." If men really thought that daily doses 

 of wine and spirit and ale were necessary to im- 

 prove their health and strength, those who could 

 afford it would give them to their favourite hunting 

 horses and their pet dogs. Yet they do not 

 this. The training jockey does not mix wine or 

 brandy with the daily allowance of water to the 

 horses he has under training for the course. All 

 men know that luxurious feeding is injurious to 

 health, and rigid temperance beneficial. All teach- 

 ers have taught it, and all experience proves it. 

 E-n-e/ T/, said Euripides, hundreds of years ago, 



Bporoicrt "nKrjv Svoiv }j.o.oi\>, 

 Trcofiaror 



