FEINBERG/WHITMAN   LITERARY FILE     Prose  "Cookery" (undated).                      A.MS.draft.
Box 36  Folder 8Cookery: essay. A. MS. (2p. 31.5 x 21 cm.)

Written in ink on one slide of unlined paper, with (very few) corrections or changes, about 340 words:

As to the question of what retards, and what favors, the production of a fine clean-blooded athletic race of men here in America, (a question, we think, before which scores of sensation-themes, politics, wars, panics, &c., sink subsite quite into insignificance,) aming other points, and one that somehow comes in from every quarter, and makes itself felt with unintermitted [sic] influence, is that of Diet--To the superficial and reckless it may be--but not to one who realizes the importance of health and manly robustness.--Nothing is small that really affects human happiness ; and of all that comes home to every man's possession of that precious prize, nthing is so direct as what, and how much, he uses for his food, and likewise how it is cooked.--The latter, by the by, is, in a very large proportion of edible substances, the main thing.
/over/ with reference to putting food in the stomach./
It is the opinion of many that, under the operation of such causes as we have mentioned, with others, the human race in civilized countries, is degenerating in size, vigor, beauty, and longevity.--No doubt the highly artifical conditions of life of men, (es-at) under present arrangements, are having a powerful effect to deteriorate and dwindle large numbers of them.--Never before were there such numbers of unnatural boy-men as at present--boys in age, but with all experiences, dissipations, vices, appetites, &c. of  mature age, and indeed of past mature age.--In America we see these precocious yuths in numers in the world, but destimed, under the blighting operation of these mature vices assumed at the age when the fram[sic] needs the greatest care that it may hardened into solid manhood--destined therefor never to be developed, nor to see that noble completeness of which it is capable.--But we are wandering from our text.--As to the question of what retards,
and what favors, the production of a
fine clear-blooded athletic race of men
here in America, (a question, we think,
before which the scores of sensation-themes,
politics, wars, panics, &c., [sink] subside quite into
insignificance,) among other points, and one
that somehow comes in from every quarter,
and makes itself felt with unintermitted
influence, is that of Diet—underneath
which is the foundation, Cookery. Is it
a small matter? — To the superficial
and reckless it may be—but not to one
who realizes the importance of health
and manly robustness. —Nothing is small
that really affects human happiness;
and all of that comes home to every
man's possession of that precious prize,
nothing is so direct as what, and how much, he uses
for his food, and likewise how it is cooked.
The latter, by the by, is, in a very large 
proportion of edible substances, the main
thing with reference to putting food in the stomachIt is the opinion of many that,
under the operation of such causes as
we have mentioned, with others, the human
race in civilized countries, is degenerating
in size, vigor, beauty, and longevity.
No doubt the highly artificial conditions
of the life of men, [as at] under present arrangements,
are having a powerful effect to deteriorate
and dwindle large numbers of
them. Never before were there [so] such
numbers of unnatural boy-men as
at present - boys in age, but with
all the experiences, dissipations, vices,
appetites, &c. of mature age, and indeed
of past mature age. In America we
see these precocious youths in numbers
in all our large cities—frequently
among them the best stuff in the
world, but destined, under the blighting
operation of these mature vices assumed
at the age when the frame [is ju]
needs the greatest care that it may
harden into solid manhood—destined
therefore never to be developed, nor to
see that noble completeness of which
it is capable. But we are wandering
from our tenet.