That's right. What has changed in the last 100 years is the motor car. Until then everyone except the rich walked.Fat is the best part of meat, it is where all the vitamins are and it adds so much flavour. One could say it is the "sly" part of the "meat". Why cut it off?
The theory that animal fat makes people fat or contributes to heart attacks has been debunked completely.
Animal fat, along with eggs, have long been taken off the naughty list.
In Samuel Pepys Diary (circa 1650s) he tells the story of walking several miles across London for a meeting (stopping for his elevenses on the way including a couple of pints of beer and some chops (you couldn't drink the water because they hadn't invented sewers) (cost me 2/6)), only to find that the person whom he was supposed to meet was not there:
"I had wasted my labour.'
On the way back, he stopped for afternoon tea including a couple more pints (cost me 3/9).
Those who could afford it ate prodigious meals and:
"by horse to Epsom. Drank 7 pints of the water and had several good stools thereby."
Very matter of fact was Sam (except for the bit in code about the downstairs maid so Mrs Pepys wouldn't find out).
The Restoration (and the "leaky" boat), the plague, and the great fire also get passing references, as does the ICAC style inquiry into public "servants" seeking backhanders to perform their duties. Ripping yarn!