The Des Moines Pure Food Café
By Mary W. Paulson
WHILE in Des Moines recently, it was our privilege to visit the Pure Food Café, located in the center of the city. This café was started a few years ago by Brother Patterson, but is at present managed by Brother and Sister Emmons. When Brother Patterson was a farmer, he became interested in healthful living. After giving it a fair trial, he discovered that he could do much better work when he lived upon health foods than when he lived in the popular way, and without any greater expense. Last fall Brother Patterson went to Colorado Springs to start a similar enterprise. Brother and Sister Emmons saw a great missionary opportunity in the health-food industry, so they took charge of the Des Moines Pure Food Café, and are conducting a successful business. We were glad to note that an excellent class of people are regular patrons at this café. Lawyers, judges, stenographers, clerks, and men in government employ from the capitol come here. This café seems to be recognized by the intelligent people of the city as the headquarters for light on dietetic reform. The mayor’s wife called one day to secure foods for a health dinner, which she served to a club. A prominent lawyer’s wife recently requested Brother and Sister Emmons to demonstrate the foods before a ladies’ club in the city. Many of the regular patrons are inquiring for religious literature. We were deeply impressed with the good that a pure food café can accomplish in reaching the intelligent people of our land, when managed by conscientious and wide-awake Christian people.