272 MORE POT-POURRI 



take to put in anything except a little sugar. Cooks can 

 be reminded at this time of year, when dried fruits 

 are so useful as compotes — apricots, prunes, apples, etc. 

 — that it is a great improvement in the stewing of them 

 to add occasionally a tablespoonful of cold water, to pre- 

 vent their cooking too fast. Bleached almonds are a 

 pleasant addition as a change in these compotes. 



I read with regret the other day in a leading 

 evening newspaper of the authoritative revival of the 

 notion that eating tomatoes is the cause of the increase 

 of cancer. This theory seems likely to deprive the poorer 

 public of one of the best and cleanest blood- purifiers 

 within reach of the inhabitants of our towns. It seems 

 to me on a par with Swift's idea that his life -long head- 

 aches were in a great measure due to a surfeit of fruit 

 consumed when very young at Moor Park, and which, 

 naturally enough, brought on the first attack, as a dish 

 of strawberries will upset a meat -eating and gouty 

 patient — this state of the blood being produced by 

 eating, not too much, but too little fruit. The popula- 

 tion of the whole south of Europe has eaten tomatoes 

 from time .immemorial. Would it not be far more 

 sensible to look for the cause of cancer in the great 

 increase of Ineat-eating, especially in towns, the over-fed 

 and diseased cattle, tinned and other preserved animal 

 foods, and the much consumed modern stimulant, 

 beef -teal 



I do not vouch for the absolute correctness of the 

 following statements, but I find them among my notes, 

 and I think there is some truth in them : 



Lettuce is calming and beneficial to anyone suffering 

 from insomnia. 



Honey is. wholesome, strengthening, cleansing, heal- 

 ing, and nourishing. 



Lemons afford relief to feverish thirst in sickness, 



