Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1854-02-01
DURA TION OF HUMAN LIFE.

DURA TION OF HUMAN LIFE.
From the advance sheets of "The Art of
Proonging life"-in press by Ticknor, Read &
Field
Z" 1t is commonly believed that during the ear
y periods Of the world, the lives of its inhabit-
ants were more youthful and perfect; that these
primitive men had gigantic size, incredible
strength, and most astonishing duration Of
life. variety of such notions were long prev
alent among mankind; and to those we are in
debted for the origin of many romantic tales
Some have not hestated seriously 10 ascribe to
our forefather Adam, the height of nine hun
dred yards and the age of almost thousand
years. But the acurate and rational investiga-
ton of modern philosophy has converted the
supposed bones of giants, found in different
parts Of the earth, into those of the elephant
and rhinoceros; and acute theologists have
shown the 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
months; that it was afterwards extended to
eight and that it was not till the time of Jo-
seph that it was made to consist of twelve
These assertions are, in certain degree, con-
firmed by some of the eastern nations, who still
reckon only three months to the year; and be-
sides, it would be altogether inexplicable why
the life of man should have been shortened
one-haf Immediately after the food. 1t would
be equally inexplcable why the patriarchs did
not marry till their sxieth, seventiett, and even
hundredth year; but this difficulty vanishes
when we reckon these ages according to the
before mentioned standard, which will give the
twentieth or thirteth year; and, consequently,
the SAME period at which people marry at pres
ent.
"The whole, therefore, according to this ex-
planation, 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 Me-
thuselah lived, will be reduced to two hundred
AN age which is not impossible, and to which
some men in modern times have nearly ap-
preached
"In profane history, we have an account of
many heroes and Arcadian kings of those peri
ods who attained to the age Of several hundred
years; but these pretended instances of longev-
ity can be explained in the same manner.
"With the period of Abraham, period when
history seems first to be established 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-
ads, or wandering people, they were much
exposed to the free open air."
CURRENTS OF THE PACIFIc-On the 2sth OF
October small case drifted ashore near Homo.
lulu, which was opened by n native and found
to contain tin box. In this tin box was O
memorandum written in several languages, to
| I, OF hat ba
from H. b. M. ship Rattlesnake, on the Goth oi
July, 1853, latitude Gid I'm N, longitude l5ld
3lm w. 1t was requested that any one finding
| the case should forward 10 the Admiraltv In