Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-07-11

by a physical analOgy, therefore, the Ordln-
ary life of a man should be 100 years at least.
The term fixed by Solomon, three score years
and ten, wants thirty years of this; the aver
age life Of men of the upper classes 90; of
tradesmen, those occupied in business and
hard workers, 55; Of the laboring classes, 65
of the factory workers, 20.
What We wish to impress upon our readers
is that the act of attaining very long life
Is q science and a certain one, If we believe NJ.
Flourens-the most recent and the best author
ity upon the subject. Barring accidents, and
of course Divine permission being given, many
a man who sinks quietly to the grave, perfect
ly efets at 50, might have lived In health till
100. Cornaro, the Italian, is q living proof of
this glGttOn and debsuchee, if we believe
his own words, he was at an early age given
over by the doctors; he determined to cure
himself and prolOng his life. He did 80 by ex-
treme sobriety, and died at the age of ITO, or
thereabOuts, in full possession of his cheerful
ness, his wit, and his faculties As he has told
US how he did this, in his DtScOrSI della Vtt9
SoBrI9, we may as well give our readers the
benefit. Firstly, We must lead, says he, So
Der life. "a sober life is life of order, of rule
and Of temperance"
We must not eat so much as will unit the
mind for its usual exertions.
We must not pass suddenly from one extreme
to another, but change slowly and cautiously.
We must eat plain and wholesome food.
We must proportion the quantity to the age
and strength Of the eater, and the kind Of
food used.
We must never allow the appetite for food or
drink to regulate the quantity we take; that
is, we must always eat under safety.
This kind Of sobriety made Cornaro a new
Kind of man, and the wonder of his age.
ssFrom il, he cries feryidly, ''spring, as from
a root life health, cheerfulness, bodily in
dustry, mental labor. Laws divine and human
favor it. From it, like clouds from the sun,
hy repletiOns, indigestions, gluttOnies, super
huities, humors, distempers, fevers, griefs, and
the perils of death"
There can be no doubt but that Cornaro is
right, What he exhibited in his own person
The was of a weakly constitution) any body may
exhibit in theirs. Inyalids, who from par
ticuIar reason are obliged TO diet themselves,
frequently live very long. The number OF
those who, fulfilling the prOverb, dig graves
with their own teeth, is immense. son mis-
erable, unhappy Italy" cried Cornaro, ''dost
thou not see that gluttony is killing every year
more people than would perish in a season OF
most severe pestilence, or by the hre and
sword of many battles" If this be true Of
Italy of 1850. is il not true Of England and
America of 1857
We could multiply instances; cuttings from
country newspapers would give us q perfect
em5aTrass de riehesses of old people. Both
men and women seem to be capable Of a great
er extension Of natural life; and Button, who
paid mucn attenuon 10 TINS suDJect, uecIareu
that in his day the majority Of Frenchmen
died before middle age Of ''chagrin and i'll
temper" There is great deal of truth in
this, not only as regards Frenchmen, but Eng
lishmen, also. Disappointment, cares, mis-
placed ambition, and the troubles Of business
kill thousands every year. The golden rule:
for attaining a green old age, accompanied
with vigor Of mind and body, seem to include
the full exercise of that reasonable restrain
aDOn our nassions and annatites which all uef
are capable of, if they will but exert them
selves; in the exercise, in short, of moderation
in food-of temperance in what we drink-o
sooriety IN our pleasures, our business, ant
our word Let us add to this the more Chris
tian virtues Of patience under difficulties, 0
resignation in trouble, Of contentment wit
our fate, and Of cbeerfulness in all circpm