Some Sample Walks 65 



took me about to see the perfect order and 

 cleanliness of the farm, the barns, and the 

 buildings. These two men had lived away 

 from " the world" for thirty or forty years, 

 they had forsworn many of its alleged 

 pleasures, but their lives were crowned 

 with content, they were alert and strong 

 in body and mind ; their kindliness and 

 frankness took hold on me. While their 

 talk was earnest, it was humorous, genial, 

 and full of sense. Shakers are vegetarians, 

 but the fact that they are also bright, that 

 they sing and whistle a good deal, that 

 they do hard, steady work and enjoy ex- 

 ceptional health, seems to show that the 

 eating of flesh is a custom rather than a 

 need. Cancer, they tell me, is unknown 

 among them, and their lives exceed our 

 average by a decade. Daniel Fraser had 

 eaten no meat in thirty years, and had also 

 abstained from eggs, fish, milk, butter, 

 cheese, lard, spirits, tea, coffee, tobacco, 

 spices, saleratus, and soda. Farinaceous 

 foods, fruit, vegetables, and water were all 

 he needed. I testify to a remarkable 

 variety and toothsomeness in their fare, 

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