The New Glutton or Epicure

by Horace Fletcher

Fuel, of course, is the source of the power. Furnaces which are capable of producing heat with the least consumption of fuel, tubes within the boilers that permit the freest possible contact of the heat produced and the water to be turned into steam, steam pipes that are flexible and yet strong, machinery that moves with the least friction in order to concentrate and utilise the power of the steam, and dynamos out of which electricity is evolved, together with auxiliary pumps and hoists and blowers and whatnot other devices to help create, control and economise the energy, are the essential parts of an electric power-plant. To insure economy and accuracy these are made as nearly automatic as possible.

At one end of the furnace house there is sunk in the cement floor a large iron scoop or tray into which cartloads of lump coal are dumped. This scoop-shaped receptacle is also the platform of a weighing machine so that each load is weighed. In the bottom of the scoop there is a trap-door, which, being opened, permits the coal to drop through between the teeth of a crusher where the large lumps are reduced, usually to the size of a small nut.

From the crusher the coal falls into the buckets of an endless chain-hoist and is conveyed aloft to great hopper-shaped bins which occupy the entire space under the roof over the furnaces. Leading back from each bin to the constantly moving grate bars of the furnace underneath is a pipe which delivers the crushed coal to the grate bars and distributes it evenly over their surface as fast as it can be received into the furnace, regulated, of course, by the consumption that is going on inside the furnace.

To accomplish this automatic feeding each set of grate bars is constructed in hinged sections, and forms a wide endless iron belt which revolves and carries the coal within the cavity of the furnace.

The coal crusher, bucket hoist, movable grate bars, ash collectors and sifters, pumps, blowers, lights and all other utilities of the plant, as well as the great travelling crane which can hoist and carry many tons' weight—any part of the enormous dynamos—from place to place, are operated by electricity which is generated in the dynamos.

Automatic gauges that measure and indicate, and switch-boards that regulate the energy created and stored in the dynamos play important parts in the economy and working of the plant and are analogous to appetite and taste in man.

ANALOGY ILLUSTRATED

The full analogy may be best illustrated by arranging the similar functions of the two energy-creating machines opposite each other in parallel columns.

ELECTRIC AND MIND POWER-PLANTSCOMPARED
ELECTRIC POWER-PLANT	MIND POWER-PLANT
Fuel.	Food.
* * *
Selection of fuel as tosteam-making and economicqualities.	Selection of food fornutritive value; normalappetite serving as anexact guide and gauge.
* * *
Crushing coal so as torender combustion aseasy and complete aspossible.	Masticating food sothat the juices of themouth can act on thesubstance with greatestfreedom; taste being evidenceof the working ofthe process.
* * *
Automatic conveyal ofthe prepared fuel, first tothe bins and then on tothe furnace as required.	Automatic reception ofproperly masticated andthoroughly insalivatedfood into Nature's FoodFilter and emptying intothe furnace of the stomachby Involuntary, or CompulsorySwallowing.
* * *
Combustion in the furnace.	Digestion in the stomachand intestines.
* * *
Generation of steam inthe boiler tubes and storagein the boilers.	Generation of materialfor vital energy and storagein the body.
* * *
Steam.	Blood in circulation.
* * *
Steam Gauge.	Pulse.
* * *
Engine.	Heart.
* * *
Dynamo, with its numerouscoils and extensivefriction surfaces.	Brain, with its complexconvolutions in constantfrictional activity.
* * *
Volt Gauge, indicatingthe power available.	Strength, indicating theavailable energy.
* * *
Electricity.	Mind. Energy. NervousForce.
AUXILIARY OPERATING MOTORS
Electric motors attachedto the separateparts or machines of theplant, connected by wiresand drawing power fromthe dynamos.	Nerve-cell motors attachedto glands andmuscles, connected withthe brain by nerve-fibresand drawing on the mentalor nervous energy forpower.
* * *
Automatic switchesregulating the transmissionof power to the motorsin response to theirfluctuating requirements.	Sensitive nerve endsterminating in each cell ofthe body and penetratingeach gland, signalling, onbeing touched, for powerto eject digestive secretionsor oily mucus as demandedby the needs ofdigestion, also, supplyingautomatic power to musclesemployed in exteriorwork or in moving thefood substance on throughthe process of digestionand afterward disposingof the excreta—ashes andclinkers, as it were. Theganglions are the switchboards of the body.
* * *
Automatic demand forfuel as required in theprogress of combustionto supply the waste oruseful consumption of theelectricity.	Appetite, indicating requirementsof the MindPower-Plant for replacingthe cnstant waste ofthe constant waste oftissue consumed in runningthe machine.
* * *
Good Draught, forcedif necessary.	Optimistic Thinking,forced if necessary, for itis necessary to health.
* * *
PROFITABLE MANAGEMENT
Intelligent Engineering.	Intelligent Self-Knowledgeand Self-Care, assistingNature in hergood intentions.
* * *
Economic stoking.	Feeding only what isactually required for sustenance.
* * *
Overloading and chokingthe furnace with irregularand dirty coal.	Overloading and chokingthe stomach withunmasticated, unsolved,unconverted, and, thereforeindigestible food.
* * *
Neglect of cleaning,oiling and repairs.	Nature is not neglectful;she does well andquickly all the lubricatingand repairing of theMind Power-Plant wheneverstrain is removedand she is given the requiredrest, or time toaccomplish the work betweenmeals.
* * *
Unnecessary ashes andclinkers, encumbering theplant, depositing dust inthe journals of the machinesand requiringmuch power to handleand remove.	Unnecessary fermentingexcreta, resulting fromunfiltered and unpreparedfood, depositingpoisonous sediment in theblood channels, strainingthe intestines, ossifyingthe cartilages, crystallisingin the kidneys andbladder and drawing excessivelyupon the availableenergy of the nervouscentres and the availablebrain energy for power tohandle and discharge.
PROFITABLE DIRECTION AND USE OF ENERGY
Good wires leading toprofitable uses.	Creditable aims in life.
* * *
Good insulation or isolationof circuit wires.	Concentration of purpose.
* * *
Resistance Coils.	Self-Control. Reserveforce.
* * *
Success, evidenced byprofit.	Success, evidenced byenergy conserved and happinesssecured.
UNPROFITABLE DIRECTION AND USE OF ENERGY
Small wires leadinganywhere or nowhere.	Aimlessness of purposeand timid, lazy or selfishisolation from sympatheticcurrents and constructiveoccupation.
* * *
Current carelesslygrounded and electricitywasted.	Energy wasted in idlenessor worry.
* * *
Crossing of wires resultingin waste of powerand possibly causing fire.	Crossed temper—Anger—wastingvaluableenergy and possibly leadingto rash acts causinglife-long regrettable foolishness.
* * *
Placing flat cars onan electric trolley line,for instance, loading themwith pig iron and purposelesslyrunning themaimlessly around the circuit,thereby wasting theelectricity and wearing outthe cars and the line.	Importing worrythrough anticipated evilon an hundred-to-onechance of its being realised,thereby wastingenergy and paralysing thedigestive and repairfunctions of the body;painfully wearing out thebody itself.
* * *
Allowing cars to runwild instead of keepingthem under control.	Permitting Anger torun away with cool discretion.

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