MARCH 225 



I wonder if other people have noticed, as I have done 

 throughout my life, that the families where medicines are 

 least in use are those of doctors themselves. This want 

 of faith in drugs on their part was one of the first things 

 which years ago opened my eyes. 



What strikes me is, how few people are really well ! 

 And if they could put side by side the pleasure of eating 

 food which is harmless, and the better health and strength 

 this would bring, compared with the pleasure of eating 

 large dinners and the feeling of the following morning 

 thrown into the balance, I believe the bird-in-the-hand 

 pleasure would lose most of its attractions. It has been a 

 real surprise to me, though apparently doctors know it 

 well, how vast a number of people would much rather be 

 ill, or even die, than be convinced that the food they like 

 does them harm. The young especially seem to think 

 that one of the chief pleasures of life would be removed if 

 they did not eat what they preferred, quite forgetting that 

 fruit and sugar and many other good things are quite 

 harmless nay, beneficial to the non-meat-eater. What 

 we do daily soon ceases to be the penance that abstinence 

 once a week was supposed to inflict. It may be said that 

 ' starving,' with many people, does not make them feel well. 

 All I can say is, it -is very seldom tried on the right 

 lines ; at any rate, not for long enough time to give it a 

 chance. 



It is curious how things repeat themselves. Sydney 

 Smith says in one of his letters : ' All gentlemen and 

 ladies eat too much. I made a calculation, and found I 

 must have consumed some waggon-loads too much in the 

 course of my life. Lock up the mouth, and you have 

 gained the victory. I believe our friend Lady Morley 

 has hit upon the right plan in dining modestly at two. 

 When we are absorbed in side-dishes, and perplexed with 

 variety of wines, she sits amongst us, lightly flirting with 



Q 



