THE FULL DINNER PAIL

Although no conclusive proof, as yet, has, backed up the professorial explanation of recent athletic unhappiness at New Haven as being due in large measure to the lack of vitamines in the over- worked soil of Connecticut; the part played by diet in athletic training is being weighed and estimated today as never before. Not only "what" to eat, but "how much" and "how often" are debated in athletic camps all over the country. A prominent football coach in Pennsylvania has come out with the statement that he has found his teams to have greater speed, and stamina when they cut out noon lunch. Christy Mathewson, the former "Big Six" of the New York "Giants", found in his own ease that he could pitch more effectively and "last" longer on two meals a day. In "reminiscing" recently he remarked that no man could be effective after eating any considerable amount and if two meals a day are enough for a ball player, they certainly ought to do an average citizen.

All of this is interesting in connection with the tests made at a college in Springfield on the effect of "reduced rations". A group of men, similar physically and engaged in the same activities, were divided into two classes for a month, half on "reduced rations" and the other half keeping to their usual diet. At the end of the month it was found that the former group were more alert mentally, more active and efficient physically, and possessed more endurance in every way than the others. The one drawback was that these men had no surplus, no energy stored up to resist colds or other diseases.

However, in spite of all such gloomy prognostications, it is only fair to say that there are no signs evident of any diminishing popularity in "Ham and--" or other forms of comestibles. There is no reason to prevent any man from cutting down to two meals a day--if he wants to. All science, economics, and efficiency suggest it. But one is tempted to respect the old story of the economical farmer and his cow. Finding by accident that a little sawdust mixed in her daily bran did no harm, he gradually increased the proportion of sawdust. Everything worked like a charm, --but the cow died.