The Empire County argus., 1855-08-11

OH AGE. The larger animals live about five
times longyr than they grow. Thus, the camel
grows eight years and lives forty The horse grows
five years and lives twenty-five. The OK and the
lion grow four years and live twenty. The dog
grows two years and lives ten. The cat only grows
q year and half but lives nine or ten The hare
grows one year and lives eight. The guinea pig
grows seven months and lives six or seven years
Man is certainly one of the larger animals and as
ne grows for twenty years he ought to live hun
dred.
M. Flourens, recent French writer of high
character thinks that science will teach men how
to prolong their lives to two hundred years. and
that the average duration of life will lie century
and half; one century of complete, active life
and half century of gradual, painless decay. At
present, however, he thinks we mus. be contented
with the following programme: For the first ten
years OF life we are infants the second ten is the
period OF boyhood; from twenty to thirty is the
first YOUTH from thirty to forty is the second
youth; the first manhood is from forty to fty-fve
the complete manhood is from fifty-fve to seventy
from seventy to eighty6ve is the first period of old
age; and at eighty-fve the second period of old
age commences That, according to M. Flourens,
is the natural life of man, unasssted by science,
unperverted by luxury
And these divisions are not imaginary or arbitra
ry Infancy proper, observes M Flourens, ceases
at ten years. because then the second toothing is
cOmpleted-ooyhood at twenty, because then the
bodies cease to increase in ength-and youth ex-
tends to forty, because about that time the body
ceases to increase in size. Enlargement of bulk
after that period consists chiefly in the accumula-
tion of fat. The real development of the parts of
the body has already ceased. Instead of ncreas-
ing the strength and activity, this later growth
weakens the body and retards its motions Then
when growth has ceased the body rests, rallies
and becomes invigorated. Like fortress, with all
its works complete. its garrison in full numbers
and threatened with an early SIEGE it repairs, ar
ranges disposes every thing within itself The
new stores it daily receives are employed in fully
equipping in Strengthening, in rebuilding. and in
maintaining every part in the greatest perfection
and efficiency. This period Of internal invrgora.
tion lasts fifteen years Chat of the first manhood
and it maintains itself for ten or fifteen years more
when old age begins.
Old age begins when the strength of the day is
only sufficient for the days average requirements,
and when unusual exertion causes painful fatigue
In manhood there is reserve Of strength in old
age we use all we have.
Moderation is the key to old age; in moderation
in labor and in enjoyment; moderation in eating
and drinking moderation in feeling and thinking.
Few people die; the majority are selfmurderers.
committing suicide by degrees. That is a vrtuous
community in which there are many hale old men
and women That is an ignoble people among
whom many children die and many youth are sick
For, the health of people, as Miss Martineau
used to maintain. is the test of its morality She
never uttered truer word.-LJe Illustrated