XXIX. 



H (Boofc Starve. 



THERE is a bit of popular physiology and folk-medicine 

 which asserts that " a good starve " is a simple and 

 effective means of treating not a few of the ailments to 

 which flesh is heir. One very admirable feature of this 

 remedy, and one which is certain to commend itself to 

 many frugal minds, is its entirely cheap and inexpen- 

 sive nature. I suspect that, like most really good and 

 simple means of treating disease, however, the "good 

 starve " will not attract devotees by reason of this 

 very quality- of cheapness, and because it is, perchance, 

 a relatively unpleasant process when all is said and 

 done. 



Nature abhors a vacuum and, I will add, especially 

 human nature. Starvation, or, to put it more mildly, 

 abstinence from food for any length of time, is not an 

 agreeable phase of life. If there is (as there should be) 

 a fair amount of enjoyment in the healthy appreciation 

 of the good things of this life, it is tolerably certain 

 we cannot be justly regarded either as Philistines or 

 Malignants, because we hear with agreeable delight 

 the joyful sound of the dinner bell or gong. 



But just as there is a philosophy of dining and 

 moreover a philosophy of dining well so it may turn 

 out that " a good starve " has likewise an intellectual 



