LIU LEHMANN

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Vol. in. New Sbries, No. 28. MAY, 1899. Wholb Number 10

LILl LEHMANN, THE PRIMA DONNA.

THE New York newspapers liave rec- ently published as startling news that Lili Cebmann is a Vegetarian. This &ct was published in the Vegetarian Review, I^ndon, in May, 1897, tinder the head of the German Vegetarian Movement. We now present her portrait which shows she is a substantial as well as a beautiful woman, such as must make a powerful impression wherever seen. The New York //enzld relates the following :

"Mme. Lehmann, several years ago, was prostrated by a severe illness, and was off the stage for a long time. She even de- spaired of regaining her health and being able to resume her career. At that critical moment two of her friends advised her to become a Vegetarian. She followed their advice with most beneficial results. One advantage she derived from it is that on the day on which she sings she is not obliged to change her diet. Here is something that she has to say on the topic :

" 'The days on which I sing,' said Mme. I^ehmann, 'I vaiy my mode of life hardly a jot. For five years I have been a Vegeta- rian. What a glorious word for those who, like myself, can utter it with such a feeling of exultation 1 My shattered nerves had kept me for a long time ou a bed of illness. It seemed impossible for me to recover from attacks of heart palpitation, dizziness and feinting spells.

" 'Finally Kugen d' Albert and Professor Klindworth recommended me to become a Vegetarian. Though I had a kind of mys- terious repugnance to the idea of giving up my rare bee&teak, to which I had become

accustomed, especially in America, and feared that I might be attacked with weak- ness in consequence, I gathered my energies together and began one day to live only on vegetables and miit. ,; .,

" .'What happened? It agreed admirably with me. True, the first two or three days I couldn't get rid of the idea that I didn't feel satisfied. But by the fourth day I was accustomed to it, and after a fortnight the attacksof dizziness and Minting and heart palpitation had ceased I was a free being, cured of all my troubles, which had been playing me such bad tricks.

won't bat her fellow creatures.

" 'In addition to this I must not under- estimate the satisfaction I feel in knowing when I sit down to a meal that I am not eating my fellow creatures, and that in order to satisfy my appetite, no harm has come them.

" 'But yon wanttoknow principally what I eat and drink the days I sing. Whether I sing or not my diet remains the same. I cany oat the same programme, and that suits me perfectly. If I happen to be at borne I rise very early — at six or half-past seven o'clock — go into my garden and work there among my plants and flowers.

" "If the weather is bad I write a good deal. At half-past seven I drink a glass of milk, eat a little rye bread and now and then some fruit.

" 'Usually I dine at noon, but when I sing in the evenings, an hotir later. I take a plate of vegetable or rice soup, then I eat a plate of vegetables. At fovu" o'clock I have a cup of milk, and at seven o,clock eat some green salad, a couple of eggs or

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cheese. At odd intervals during the day I have frnit. Perhaps twice a year I eat ^h, but I don't care for it much, and only take it when I can find nothing else.

" 'With one plate of rice taken in the afternoon I am strong enough to sing Isolde and to stand the strain of all the great roles which last until midnight.

" 'I never touch alcoholic drinks, never am thirsty, and I have a fine buoyant feel- ing when I am out walking. Every morn- ing I go through calisthenics, take a swim when I can, otherwise cold baths, work a great deal in the garden and indoors. I no longer know what fatigue is since I've be- come a Vegetarian and can stand a great deal more both mentally and bodily. There- fore I can highly recommend this mode of life. Simple as it is, its eSect upon the sotil is most stimulating.' "

The Vegetarian Review two years ago, gave the following from Lili Lehmann as "A Vocalist's Testimony, " Miss Leh- mann is quoted as saying :

' 'I had been very nervous for a number of years, and thereftK^ wholly withdrew from society, and devoted myself solely to my art and very straining professional calling. My nervous condition so got the upper hand, that I suffered for days and nights from dreadful headaches before each rote I had to play ; and I could scarcely breathe for nervousness before singing. In short I was in a frightful condition, when I sud- denly became affected with weakness of the heart, and suffered for several years, in spite of all care and rest, only very slowly recovering, Bugen d' Albert and Prof. Klind worth had previously repeatedly tirged me to become a Vegetarian, but as I had always been a hearty flesh-eater, I could not make up my mind to live upon vegeta- bles alone, although I had ever eaten largely both of vegetables and fruit. Two years ago, however, I resolved to try the diet for a few days. The first two days I seemed to be always hungry' and never satisfied, bat after another couple of days this feeling dis- appeared. In a fortnight I had the satis- foction of remarking how extraordinarily well the diet suited me. My fainting fits ceased, and the excitement before singing

equally so ; for I made a ti ial at a beneV' olent society's concert at Kroll's, and found I could sing with perfect quietness. I ex- perience the remarkable influence of the diet upon me every day, and am heartily grateful to my two advisers, before men- tioned. I feel much easier, and am truly a younger person. I can endure far more, and feel decidedly in every way much better.

"I must say, however, that I am not quite so consistent as many. Now and again I may take meat-broth with barley, rice, or the like ; I eat vegetables and much fruit, both raw and stewed. I drink milk instead of coffee and tea. I exper- ience, however, not the least thirst either at lunch or dinner. For months ofben, wiUt the exception of a cup of milk iu the morn- ing and afternoon, I drink absolutely nolk- ing.

"I am doubly delighted about the Vege- tarian diet, because then one has no longer to reflect that one eats the oorpees of animals which have to undergo the most horrible torture before death, and that is au elevating and happy feeling. The quieting influence of a Vegetarian diet on the mind enables us to believe that a partially Vege- tarian diet would be of the greatest service to the people, since sensuality would be lessened and drunkeness checked.

"Through the barbarity with which an- imals are treated, and which by flesh-eating is always increasing, people have become dreadfully brutalized: and this raw char- acter leads always to further crimes, and excesses having horrible results. It has been proved statistically that a biE^er percentage of murders are commrtted by butchers than by any other class ; probably because they are continually engaged in the cruel occupation of slaughter. Further, it has been shown that criminals of all kinds are always also torturers of animals ; and in this relation, unfortunately, nothing is being done to educate the human heart. Humanity should be taught in schools, and every child should pledge itself never to torture an animal, but, on the contrary, to be its protector."

Bands of Mercy are being organized in San Francisco, Cal., by Miss McGuire.

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