Some people imagine they see starvation staring them in the face when they read or hear any suggestion of a "meat famine." A probable scarcity of flesh meat in the market, or an intimation of high prices from any cause is deemed a public calamity. But if all would invest the money usually spent for flesh food in any of the better articles of diet, they would be better off healthwise as well as in purse. That meat is a prime necessity in the line of food is a mistaken idea, as is shown in the lives of many individuals, and of large classes of people.
An instance, reported in a current press item, is8that of a Frenchman who is 105 years of age. Every day, no matter what the state of the weather, he is out on the streets of Carmes selling small brooms which he makes himself. His name is Ignace Botta, and he is hale and hearty, with snow-white hair. He is in full possession of his mental faculties, yet his life has been full of hardships. His daily nourishment consists of a loaf of dry bread, and sometimes a glass of sweet wine. He never has tasted meat.
On this question of flesh diet, there are some leading points that are worthy of special consideration: 1. God knows what is best for the sustenance of the human body and mind. 2. When He created man and beast, no flesh food was prescribed for any living creature. The eating of flesh by man or beast was a result of the fall, and a consequent degeneration of instinct and perversion of appetite. 3. When God would supply His people with food in the wilderness, He gave them manna from heaven, altho it was just as easy for Him to give them quails, which He did not do until they cried for flesh, not being willing to accept the wisdom of God in the matter. See Num. 11:4, 13, 17-23, 31-33. 4. When Daniel and his companions chose to eat only vegetarian food while attending school, they graduated with higher honors than any others of their fellow students. 5. When God would select a food for the unlimited perpetuation of life, He chose the fruit of a tree—the tree of life—and not flesh food. 6. As there was no flesh-eating before the fall, there will not be any such thing when the dominion shall have been restored, as it will be in Christ. See Micah 4:8; Rev. 21:1-3; 22:1, 2, 14. 7. Whatever of actual necessity there may be now for flesh-eating at times or in remote places, under restricted circumstances, is the result of dependence upon it, and use of it, and the lack of preparation for the use of other diet. The necessity, real or imaginary, is altogether an artificial necessity—the outgrowth of long departure from the natural food provided by the Creator.