Wholesome Lifestyle

"Look at me!" he said. "Never a day's sickness in my life, and all due to simple food. Why, gentlemen," he continued, "from the age of twenty to that of forty and more I lived an absolutely simple regular life -- no effeminate delicacies, no late hours, no extravagances. Every day, in fact, summer and winter, I was in bed regularly at nine o'clock and up again at five in the morning. I worked from eight to one, then had substantial dinner -- a plain dinner, mark my words: after that, an hour's exercise; then ..."
"Excuse me, friend," interrupted the incredulous chap in the corner, "but just what were you in prison for?"
Originally published November 14, 2002.