Our first duty is to learn to keep our body healthy. Naturally, we sooner expect to see a noble character possess a beautiful form than one disfigured by abuse and polluted by disease. We do not say that every sick man is a villain, but we do say that men and women of high character regard the body as an instrument for some high purpose, and believe that it should be cared for and nourished according to its natural requirements. In vegetarianism, _scientifically practised_, is a cure, and better, a preventative, for many physical, mental, and moral obliquities that trouble mankind, and if only a knowledge of this fact were to grow and distil itself into the public mind and conscience, there would be halcyon days in store for future generations, and much that now envelops man in darkness and in sorrow, would be regarded as a nightmare of the past. FOOD TABLE The following table exhibits the percentage chemical composition of the principal vegetable food materials; also of dairy produce and common flesh-foods for comparison. FOOD MATERIAL Protein Fat Carbo- Salts Water Fuel hydrates Value cals. Vegetable Foods p. ct. p. ct. p. ct. p. ct. p. ct. p. lb. Wheat Flour (entire) 18.8 1.9 71.9 1.0 11.4 1,675 Oatmeal 16.1 7.2 67.5 1.9 7.3 1,860 Rice 8.0 .3 79.0 .4 12.3 1,630 Barley 8.5 1.1 77.8 1.1 11.5 1,650 Corn Meal 9.2 1.9 75.4 1.0 12.5 1,655 Rye 0.8 .9 78.7 .7 12.9 1,630 Lentils (dried) 25.7 1.0 59.2 5.7 8.4 1,620 Beans (dried) 22.5 1.8 59.6 3.5 12.6 1,605 Peas (dried) 24.6 1.0 62.0 2.9 9.5 1,655 Nuts, various (_aver._) 16.0 52.0 20.0 2.0 10.0 2,640 Dates 2.1 2.8 78.4 1.3 15.4 1,615 Figs 4.3 .3 74.2 2.4 18.8 1,475 Potatoes 2.2 .1 18.4 1.0 78.3 385 Apples .4 .5 14.2 .3 84.6 290 Bananas 1.3 .6 22.0 .8 75.3 460 Dairy Foods Milk, whole (not skim) 3.3 4.0 5.0 .7 87.0 325 Cheese, various (_aver._) 24.5 28.4 2.1 4.0 41.0 1,779 Hens' Eggs (_boiled_) 14.0 12.0 0.0 .8 73.2 765 Flesh Foods