Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1854-01-26
DURATION OF HUMAN LIFE,

DORAAlON OF HUMAN LIFE.
From the advance sheets of "The Art of
Prolonging Life'-in press by Ticknor, Read &
Field -
'lt is commonly believed that, during the
early periods of the world, the lives of its in
habitants were more youthful and perfect -
ttat these primitive men had gigantic size,
Incredible strength, and most astonishing du-
ration OF life. A variety of such notions were
long prevalent among mankind and to those
we are indebted for the origin of many roman
tic tales. Some have not hesitated seriously to
ascribe to our forefather Adam, the height of
nine hundred yards, and the age of almost a
thousand years. But the accurate and rational
investigation of modern philosophy has con-
verted the supposed bones of giants, found in
different parts of the earth into those of the
elephant and rhinocoros; and acute theologists
have shown tie chronology Of the early ages
was not the same as that used at present.
Some, particularly Hensler, have proved with
the highest probability, that the year till the
time of Abraham consisted only of three month;
that it was afterwards extended to eight and
that it was not till the time of Joseph that it
was made to consist of twelve. These asser-
tions are, in a certain degree, confirmed by
some of the eastern nations, who still reckon
only three months to the year; and besides, it
would be altogether ineXplicable why the life of
man should have been shortened one-half i'm
mcdiately after the flood. 1t would be equally
inexplicable why the patriarchs did not marry
till their sixtieth, seventieth, and even hum
droth year; but this difficulty vanishcs when
we reckon these ages according to the before
mentioned standard, which will give the twcn-
tieth or thrtieth year: and, consequently, the
same period at which people marry at present.
The whole, therefore, according to this ex-
PLANTATION, assumes different appearance. The
sixteen hundred years before the flood will be-
come four hundred and fourteen, and the nine
hundred years (the highest recorded) which
Methuselah lived will be reduced to two hun
dred-an age which is not impossible and to
which some men in modern times have nearly
approached.
In profane history, wo have an account Of
many heroes and Archadian kings Of those PC
RODS whc attained 70 the age of several hum
dred years; but these pretended instances of
longevity can be explained in the same manner.
With the period Of Abraham, period when
history seems first to be establiehed, on more
certain grounds we find mention Of duration
of life which can be still attained, and which no
longer appears extraordinary, especially when
we consider the temperate manner in which the
patriarchs lived; and that, as they were NOM
AIDES, or a wandering people, they were much
exposed to the free open air.
A BoACoNsTRlcroR SWALLOWING A HoRsE.-
Mr. Gardner, in his " Travels in Brazil" con-
firms the early accounts respecting the size and
prodigious swallowing capacity Of the boa-con-
strictor-accounts which certain naturalists,
whose researches never extended beyond the
galleries of museum, are in the habit of treat
ing with ridicule and unbeief. 1.-The boa,"
said he, ''is not uncommon throughout the whole
province of Gogaz, particularly by the wooded
margins of lakes, marshes, and streams. Some
times they attaing the enormous length of forty
ty feet the largest saw was i'll this place, but
was not alive. Some weeks before our arrival
at Sape, the fayorite riding horse Of Senor
Lagoeira, which had been out to pasture not
far from the house, could not be found although
strict search was made for it all over the hazen-
da. Shortly after this, one of his vaquciros, in
going through the wood by the side of a small
river, saw an enormous boa suspended in the
fork of tree which hung over the water 1t
was dead, but had evidently been foated down
alive by recent food and being in an inert
state, it had not been able to extricate itself
from the fork before the waters fell 1t was
dragged out to the open country by two horses,
and was found to measure thirty-seyen feet in
length. On opening it, the bones of horse,
were found in somewhat broken co"sfs''''n'
the head being uninjured. From these eifouin-
stances, it was concluded that the boa mad DC
voured the horse entire. In all kinds OF snakes
the capacity for swallowing is prodigious. Ihave
often seen one not thicker than my thumb swal-
low frog as large as may fist; and | once
killed rattlesnake, about four feet long, and
of no great thickness, which had swallowed not
less, than three frogs, one of which swelled out
its side to nearly twice the thickness of the
other parts, | have also seen very slender
snake that frequents the roofs of houses, swal-
low an entire bat three times its own thickness.
IF such be the case with these smaller kinds, it
is not to be wondered at that one thirty-seven
feet long should be able to swallow horse par
ticularly when it is known that, previously to
doing 80, it breaks the bones Of animals BY coll
inr itself round it, and afterward lubricatcs 1t
with Shiny matter which it has the power OF
secreting in its mouth,
MEN OF WAR What They Cost.-The Alba
nv Knickerbocker pithily says -" Three OIL the
most expensive luxuries nations can possibly IN
dulee in. are wars, bass drums and heroes y
and in proof. states that in England the Duke
of Wellington, since 1911, has received in mill
tary pay, bounties, grants, &C., about Sl4, ,OOO,-
900 or some 100000 per year-more than we
nav Congress- Senate, President and thirty-one
Cta+o Governors. WHY. that great sum would