Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-07-13
Length of Human Life.

An article in the last number Of Blackwood's Mag
azne, on the above subject. holds the idea that
the age of man should be one hundred years instead
of three-score and ten. The author says -'s We do
not simply die; usually kill ourselves. Our hab-
its, passions, anXeties of body and mind ;
these shorten lives, and prevent from reaching
the natural limit OF human existencen GluttOny, he
serts destroys more lives than intemperate drink.
ing, and yet, it s the fashion to restrict the term
sobriety TO the moderate Of liquors" sober
life no doubt implies moderation in all thingsin eat
ing, drinklng and III the enjoyment Of all the plea
sures of life. But although we have read and heard
much of moderation in eating and drinking, the diff
Guilty has always arisen in our minds respecting the
true standard of moderation What is it? who will
define it The standard suitable for one is not for
another No man CAN doubt for moment the ben.
etits of mofel Acknowledgements in all things But
or should set up his own standard for his
nelghbor. And yet it may truly be said that gener-
al rules Tor temperance may be set down, which, if
followed, would be of immense benefit such as 6 not
to eat much will unfit the mind for its usual ex.
ertionS; or so much will make the body heavy and
torpid Nor to pass hastily from extreme of liv-
ing to another, but TO change slowly and cautiously,
10 eat plain and wholesome food and to proportion
its quantity to the temperament the age, and strength
OF the eater Not to allow the appetite for food or
drink 10 regulate the quantity TO be taken, but expe-
rience void OF SCI sual DESIRE These rules if fol-
lowed, will tend 10 promote health and thus lead to
a greater length of days and years in mans exist
ECA4Ou
and neither food, drink sobrie,y can place him
beyond that. We find that each species OF animal
has its boundary of life, and so has man he has
his infancy, youth, middle age, old age, and then
comes the winding sheet and the narrow house
But how long does his existence last ?-how many
years encIrce his natural life These are mpor.
tant questions We find that thirty years is consid-
cred to be generation; that is the whole world is
re- peopled every thirty years with d new race, and
like number departs from it in that period But no
person considers thirty years the natural term of
mans life seventy years being generally set down
that limit. A book, however recently published
in Paris, by NJ Flourens, which has created no small
sensation in that city places old age at eighty five
years, and the complete natural life of man about
century. He places first manhood between forty
five and ffty-fye, and second manhood from that to
seventy, instead of old age at that period. We are
inclined to accept his view of the question as the
most correct Button, the naturalist entertained
such an opinion The rule of life laid down by him
is that animals live from six to seven times the num-
Der of years required to complete their growth such
as the horse, which completes lis growth at four
years, lives from twenty to twenty-four years. and
man who takes eighteen years to reach his full
growth may live more than hundred years There
are but few who live to hundred years. and
just as few horses that live to twenty four, but that
affords no reason why many men, and almost all men
OF sound constitution may not live for century
The table of NJ, Fourens relating to life is as fol-