"HOW CAN I HELP ?"
[To ran EDITOR or rim '• Sracraroa."1
SIB,—I have noted with great satisfaction your recommenda- tion that all good patriots should study the dietetic economics to be derived from the resources of the vegetable kingdom. I am not concerned in this letter to press upon your readers' attention the inexpugnable theory and ultimate ideals of the vegetarian movement. These are being apprehended with increasing certitude in all parts of the civilized world, but I do desire to point out not only the many advantages to be obtained by a direct resort to the kindly fruits of the earth, from a purely economic point of view, but also the physical
and moral vigour to be gained by abstinence from luxurious living. Most people are, at the moment, asking themselves : "What can I do to save my country in her time of need ? " Well, Sir, there is one sacrifice which every patriot can unhesitatingly make—the surrender of self-indulgence. Last year, in the United Kingdom alone, more than £170,000,000 of money was squandered by the people of this country in unnecessary, not to say injurious, expenditure upon alcoholic drinks. If every patriot were to become a total abstainer during the period of the war, what a gain to national hardi- hood, what an increase to national health and well-being would be inevitably secured. The same comment applies to the wholly unnecessary self-indulgence of smoking— if only as a suggestion to the Germans, who have set a bad example to the world in this particular respect. And, lastly, let it be remembered that where a pound of meat, which contains eighty per cent. of water, may cost ls. a pound, a pound of wheat, which contains eighty per cent. of nutritive matter, will not cost even at war prices more than 2d. a pound. The same general economy will be found to distinguish the supplies which are to be obtained from the animal and vegetable world. If every household were to confine itself rigorously to one meat meal per diem, and to make up the deficiency with the innumerable delicate and delicious dishes to be obtained from any vege- tarian cookery-book, not only would an immense saving of valuable foodstuffs be secured, but the peril of distress amongst the poor could be largely removed from our midst.. I therefore write to say that my Committee will be prepared to send free of charge to all desiring such information full particulars of vegetarian cookery, and recipes which will serve as an introduction to a simpler, a more wholesome, and an altogether more delightful method of life. All applications in this matter should be made to the Secretary, London Vegetarian Association, Memorial Hall, Farringdon Street, E.C.—Thanking you in anticipation for your kind insertion of this letter, I am, Sir, &c., ARNOLD F. HILLS
(President Vegetarian Federal Union), Queenwood, Eastbourne.
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