THE ART OF LIVENG

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XL, Issue 19, 6 May 1908, Page 43

THE ART OF LIVENG

A record of the experience of experts in : the art of living was begun in the last number of the “ Review of Reviews.” Mr. Stead has succeeded in obtaining the

views of more distinguished men on the important subject of what to eat, drink, and avoid, which he publishes in the numberiust issued!. General Booth’s personal rules, which he’ does not insist upon as applicable to others, may be summarised thrfs: — I have taken neither fish, flesh nor fowl for some years gone by, my diet consisting of bread, butter, grain, cheese, vegetables, with occasionally a little fruit. I take tea in combination with hot milk, and when thirsty a little plain aerated water. I take no intoxicants or fancy drinks.

I neither smoke, take tobacco, nor any other opiate or pick-me-up in any form. 1 fin ! my comfort and stimulation in the conscious flavour of God and the joy of

doing good. Mr. Thomas Hardy, who is now in his 68th year, gives the following rules of health: — Food: Not to take much animal food. •Drink: To take very little alcohol. Smoking: To abstain altogether. Dr- Grace, the cricketer of the last half-century, who is now 60 years of age, says:— Food: Eat in moderation. Drink: Ditto.

Smoking: Ditto. I do not smoke, so cannot give my own experience on that.

Mr. Benjamin Kidd, the philosopher and writer on economics: — Food: I have found well-cooked lean meat the most easily digested food, and that on which it has been possible to do continuously the best intellectual work. 1 cannot d'o good work on much starchy food. Very spare eating is, in my case, essential to the clear working of the mind.

Drink: I rarely take alcohol. 1 cannot do good work after it. It is not the immediate effects, but the after results which seem to depress the brain power. Smoking: I rarely smoke. Sir Oliver Lodge’s plan is: — Food: No time to think about it. 1 eat whatever comes—tco much probalily. "■ •: rr: n «-I Drink: Next to nothing now, except on occasions of hospitality; then whatever is good. Smoking: Did not smoke at all till feyty, and very little.since. - The anti-smoking brigade is still very strongly represented. Among those who have never smoked, or who advise total abstinence from tobacco, are General Booth, Thomas Hardy, Lord Rayleigh, Dr. W. G. Grace, Professor Sa'yce, Henry Arthur Jones, Sir William Ram-ay, Mr. Beerbchm Tree, Sir H- 11. Johnston, Mr. F. Benson, and Mr. Walter Crane. Sir Ray Lankester thinks smoking “ perhaps better avoided,” but finds “si« small Turkish cigarettes in the day and one goed cigar after dinner not obviously harmful, and very agreeable.” Chief among the smokers is George R. Sims, who begins to smoke directly oa gets up, and goes on smoking ...til ho goes to bed at night. He says: ” 1 have tried to smoke les-, but up to the present I have found it very difficult to do anything without a pipe or a cigar. 1 never smoke cigarettes.” , Mr. Edmund Gosse has no hesitation in saying’that he has found tobacco of immense service to his general health and’ comfort. He never smokes at work. Mr. Silas K. Hocking never .-mokes until after lunch, never smoke*.. while at work, and his daily quantum is half a-dozen cigarettes. Mr. Walter ..Crane, says that he has not msoked for over thirty years, but it is an- undertaking to explain to one’s friends that one does not smoke, and he adds that if one has any bad habits it is best to break them occasionally-