Another evil against which I would warn you is dwelling upon the merits of certain dishes, and condemning others because they are not so deli- cate. How unworthy it is of man to fix his mind and heart on eating and drinking with such eagerness that the burden of his conversation is on the excellent fish of such a river, the luscious fruit of such a country, and the fine wines of such a region! This is a clear proof that he has lost sight of the true end of eating, which is to support nature, and that, instead of devoting to this work the senses destined for it, he de- bases his heart and his intelligence to make them also slaves of his gluttony. Avoid with especial care all attacks upon your neighbor's character. The malicious rapacity which prompts us to tear our neighbor's reputation in pieces was justly condemned by St. John Chrysostom as a species of cannibalism: "Will you not be satisfied with eating the flesh of animals? Must you devour human flesh by rob- bing another of his good name?" St. Augus- tine had so great a horror for this vice, from which so few tables are free, that he inscribed on the walls of his dining-room the following lines:
"This board allows no vile detractor place
Whose tongue will charge the absent with disgrace."
Still another point to which I wish to direct
your attention is the warning given by St.
Jerome, that it is better to eat moderately every
- "Quisquis amat dictis absentium rodere vitam
Hanc mensam vetitam noverit esse sibi." – In "Vita Aug.," c. 22,
