HELEN NEARING

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We said sure as long as he didn't attack us with injections or anything like that, so we went to the hospital in Bangor. He tested us all over. He was so torpid and sleepy at the interview that he almost fell asleep. He had next to no energy. Well, he could find nothing wrong with us, but apparently we were low on B-12. He happened to be a B-12 specialist.

MEN: He probably thought, "Eureka!"

HN: He was overjoyed to find that we were so low on B-12, but Scott suggested that he should test us differently than how he tested meat-eating people. For them, our readings would be very low. So maybe this is the norm for us. And the man said that we might have been right. He has died since then I think.

Some people took exception to Scott and I speaking in public about living simply, about independence and care for the earth. They needed to trip us up.

MEN: I recall reading about an episode in which a man accosted you about your suit while you were at a conference.

HN: Oh yes. (Laughs) That was terrific. We were speaking at a large meeting at a school one day when a man, a local tailor, stood up and said, "Mrs. Nearing, I know my craft, and happen to know that the suit you have on is worth at least $150." He was implying that my lessons on frugality were lost on myself. But I said, "Oh really, that's great because I got it for $3 on sale in a thrift shop." It brought the house down.

He was animated. But I wouldn't go into an ordinary store and pay their regular price. I don't need clothes. What do I need?

MEN: A few months before he decided to stop eating, Scott said he was worried that mankind was doing a second-rate job of taking care of business here and that we might almost better be gotten rid of as painlessly as possible.

HN: Yes. He thought that.

MEN: Do you agree with that statement?

HN: I think mankind is an experiment that's certainly been botched. I can't say it's failed yet because when you hear the marvelous musicians or read wonderful poetry or the great thoughts of the great lives of so many people, you think it's worth it. But on the other hand, the majority of the population is not doing very well.

We haven't even learned common ordinary brotherhood. Look at the fighting that's going on in the world today, and the crime and the pollution and all. We haven't learned the bare essentials yet. A few people have, but the vast majority, no.

MEN: The early '90s have at least been an improvement on the environmental ignorance that characterized the last decade. Do you find that encouraging?

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