The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1858-06-26
Mcthuselah,

Did Mcthus,laI, live on the earth nine
hundred and sixty-nine years Were the
years IN the days OF Moses and the prophets
as long as they are now Were days and
Yeas in Bible times. literal or figurativc g
These questions are frequently discussed, but
not always satisfactorily solved.
To the present short.lved race it seems to
be incuncriyabie that, in the carly history Of
tie world, men should have lived so long
But no one has ever given US q sound reason
why they should not. We have never yet
heard a scientific reason to the contrary.
DR.. Alc,tt the celebrated vegetarian who is
20 often accused of advocating :! bran bread
and saw-dust buildings" but who in reality
does not recommend bran bread at all, and
who is opposed to buildings of all kinds. ar
CUES that if Methuselah out.lived his ance>-
tors. bis descendants might have out lived
him. bad they been as ligidly observaut Of
the conditions Of health.
And why not We should like to see the
medical man or the Psychologist who can give
II reason why it is impossible for a human be-
ing to live Il ousand years. We mean of
course a philosophical treason. All the arsu-
mcnt that can be advanced against this posi-
ton must be drawn from human experience.
This proves the present average age of the
And if We look into the causes which are
destroying the human race at this moment,
as well as abbrevlating the natural period OF
CHS. cnce, we may well wonder that the race
does not cease to live at all.
No one will contend that Mcthuselah lived
almost thousand years contrary to the laws
of nature. And if the laws of nature permit
one person to live SO long, why will not the
same laws permit other persons under similar
circumstances to live rs long or longer !
1t is true that millions Of children are born
into the world every year without vitality
Sufficient TO carry them through the Period OF
infancy. a majority are born with so low a
gra dc Of constitutional stamina as to be una
BILE to grow up to fully mature manhood,
even under the most favorable circumstances.
And of those who have the reputation Of dying
of old age, their years do not often number
three score and ten.
Was Methusclah an old man at fifty or
sixty Was he gray-headed and .superan-
nuatcd at sixry-nine? Was he known amo@
inen as an old man at three hundred ! Ell
lie was young man at three hundrsd beif
one hundred years he was bn.t "n
and not an " old boy, - either. She'''''A'
grown, firmly developed a'' .se,v nonu-
boy. :, 10 in liz Tina
Mcthusclah did not G'fe o1Dm%s Of .lomnhtan
lated city nor was s re Stables '' nis nens
flied with the pois"s%~e We're the nco rs r rom
houses, d's.l ~: az themselves with fiery
ana grave yaaisson%sisying narcotics. Nor was
tInu"l,y . ssess times adutcrated and Vita
Sl''n a,a%, s,ssi ble ways to suit the purposes
,n Ii" sr~se, and insure the profits of dealers.
dfeo"Hd doctors then poison the people
Irss%s,egh and through with powerful drugs, if
terchance they became sick. Nor did learn
cd men IN those days teach US that lager bier
AhI alcohol were useful and nutritious foods
ana beverages. Nor were men permitted, as
nov, to walk abroad and puff the poisonous
smoke into the whole atmosphere. Men lived
III putty, purity Insured health, health gave
strength, strength secured lorg life. 40,
for the good old days of Adam and of Eve"
and of Methuselah especially. -Life Has
hctcd.