……their cookery is exquisite, so diversified and nutritious that one does not miss animal food; and their own physical forms suffice to show that with them, at least, meat is not required for superior production of muscular fibre. They have no grapes — the drinks extracted from their fruits are innocent and refreshing. Their staple beverage, however, is water, in the choice of which they are very fastidious, distinguishing at once the slightest impurity. – The Coming Race – p220

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In our Ernest Bell Library, we have two items by Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton.

1) An unbound, but complete, pamphlet on hydrotherapy – published in 1851 by the ‘vegan’ pioneer William Horsell. I was intrigued to find this link between  them. They must have been at least acquainted with each other – perhaps they were friends?

The Vril-ya ‘kept’ animals – perhaps Lord Lytton had not quite grasped the reality of lactation – but none were ever killed.

The Vril-ya consumed only plants – no eggs or honey. They drank only water and fruit juices.

George Bernard Shaw was inspired by the idea of Vril energy

The Coming Race – p219

We then went through vast storehouses filled with grains and fruits. I may here observe that the main staple of food among these people consists — firstly, of a kind of corn much larger in ear than our wheat, and which by culture is perpetually being brought into new varieties of flavour; and, secondly, of a fruit of about the size of a small orange, which, when gathered, is hard and bitter. It is stowed away for many months in their warehouses, and then becomes succulent and tender. Its juice, which is of dark-red colour, enters into most of their sauces. They have many kinds of fruit of the nature of the olive, from which delicious oils are extracted.

The Coming Race – p220

They have a plant somewhat resembling the sugar-cane, but its juices are less sweet and of a delicate perfume. They have no bees nor honey-kneading insects, but they make much use of a sweet gum that oozes from a coniferous plant, not unlike the araucaria. Their soil teems also with esculent roots and vegetables, which it is the aim of their culture to improve and vary to the utmost. And I never remember any meal among this people, however it might be confined to the family household, in which some delicate novelty in such articles of food was not introduced. In fine, as I before observed, their cookery is exquisite, so diversified and nutritious that one does not miss animal food; and their own physical forms suffice to show that with them, at least, meat is not required for superior production of muscular fibre. They have no grapes — the drinks extracted from their fruits are innocent and refreshing. Their staple beverage, however, is water, in the choice of which they are very fastidious, distinguishing at once the slightest impurity.

Araucaria = a genus of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Araucariaceae – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araucaria

Esculent = a thing, especially a vegetable, which is fit to be eaten.

In fine = finally; in short; to sum up.

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Our 3 Main Projects

The Henry Salt Archive is one of our, almost completed, projects.

The Humanitarian League is our Hong Kong registered charity.

The Ernest Bell Library was conceived in 1934. It is still strong & very active eighty years later –  its primary objectives are to: –

Collect all of Ernest Bell’s book & non-book works and make them easily accessible to everyone.

Collect the literature of vegetarianism and all the other humanitarian movements in which Ernest Bell was so deeply involved.

Assist students and scholars in their research.

Introduce all aspects of Ernest Bell’s life, including his writings, campaign work, influences and his circle of friends.

Undertake our own research into missing aspects of Ernest Bell’s life and work.

We already have more than 300 pieces of Ernest Bell’s own writings.

We are also actively building a collection of examples of promotional material, campaign material, fundraising & marketing activities etc. – related to: –

veg(etari)an products

veg(etari)an books & other publications

veg(etari)an organisations

veg(etari)an businesses

animal rights organisations

animal rights publications

humanitarian organisations

humanitarian publications

rambling clubs run by members of the above groups & related publications

the work of Richard St. Barbe Baker & the ‘Men of the Trees’ organization & its many sub-branches

 “I have little doubt that the proposal for the establishment of an Ernest Bell Library, which would specialize in humanitarian and progressive literature, and so form a sort of center for students, will meet with a wide response.” 

Henry S. Salt – writing in September 1934

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Please consider helping us to build up the Ernest Bell Library.

Our history is rich. It is not yet very well documented. We freely share our items with museums, universities, libraries & scholars worldwide. We have a wonderful team of friends / supporters.

……we never have enough $ – € – £ – ¥ – CHF – kr – ₩ – ﷼ – Rp – etc.

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If anyone would like more information, please send an email to: – 

humanitarianleague (at) outlook (dot) com 

– or message me  through HappyCow.

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