THE SCIENCE OF HAPPINESS 



overnight when they cross the Channel from England; 

 and reverting to steak, potatoes, and griddle cakes as a 

 matter of course when they sit down to their first break- 

 fast on the homeward-bound steamer. 



It were futile to inquire which custom is intrinsically 

 best, since each nation seems to thrive on its own. 

 Doubtless the differing customs are linked with differ- 

 ences of climatic conditions and of racial tempera- 

 ment. Much depends, too, upon the hour at which 

 breakfast is taken; something more upon the charac- 

 ter of the forenoon occupation; and most of all per- 

 haps upon the nature of the mid-day meal that is to 

 follow. As to the latter point, there is a very marked 

 difference of custom. Germans, for example, almost 

 invariably eat their heartiest meal in the middle of the 

 day; while the French as habitually dine in the even- 

 ing. National peculiarities aside, it may be said that 

 mid-day dining is a custom of the country, whereas 

 the city dweller dines after his day's work is done. 

 The differences of habit as regards character of work, 

 time of sleeping, and the like, that give rise to this 

 diversity, are obvious; and the manner in which the 

 human system adapts itself to one custom or the other, 

 thriving under either regimen, is no less striking. Al- 

 most the only dogmaticism that the observed facts seem 

 to warrant, is the assertion that the growing child may 

 with advantage take its heartiest meal in the middle of 

 the day. 



A word of caution may, however, be given as to 

 disturbing the regularity of habit. If you dine habitu- 

 ally at night, it is a very questionable procedure indeed 



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