Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-01-15
From tho Belfast (Me) JoarnN'l
How tho lnnumerable Caravan
Moves.

Says the contcmplativo Henry w.
Longfellow, musing on the uncertain
ty Of our hold on existence
Our hearts. though stout and brave
stli, like muhied drums are beating
Funeral marches to tho grave"
A late report OF the Registrar Gen
eral OF Births, Deaths and Marriages
in England has chapter that is at
once interesting and instructive in
which he gives the statistics OF the
"March of an English Generation
through Life" The London Quarter
" Review has some Of the most inter
esting facts and figures, from which
tho following is condensed.
The chapter opens by singing out
in Imagination, a million children
from the moment OF birth. OF these
some arc born feeble, some are early
attacked by disease, and their irSll and
immature forms are surrounded by
many perils The report shows that
more than n fourth part Of the whole
number will have been removed by
death before they reach the age OF 5,
Increasing strength enables the BAL
ance of the million to withstand bet
ter the onslaughts OF illness, and less
than seventh part Of the number OF
deaths recorded in the first period Of
five years is enumerated in the second.
The deaths between the age of 10 and
Is are fewer than at any other time OF
lito.
At the age from Is to 20 the NOR
tality increases again, especially among
women; as consumption and child
birth Gor the figures show that a great
er proportional number OF deaths oc-
cur among those who marry at very
early agc) make severe havoc in their
ranks. At this age the more danger
GUS occupations of men over those
of women begin to show their lnfu-
ences, and fully eight times as many
men as women die violent deaths
The number Of deaths from violent
causes increases ip the next five years
from 20 to 25- Will G, during it,
nearly half the mortality is from con-
sumption.
From 25 to 35 consumption is again
the most fatal disease most OF those
who die have already settled into their
avocations, and Are already fathers
and husbands, mothers and wives.
Hence the deaths which occur at this
period leave more sorrow and trouble
behind them than those which take
place at an earlier age. Between 50
and As the same conditions continue
in the main. By this time it should
be remembered that the new genera
ton which is to succeed the one we are
now considering has been borr. W TN
this in mind let us continue to watch
the onward march OF the now rapidly
thinning ranks of tho million souls we
have been mentally accompanying on
their march.
The deaths by consumption still
predominate I; but the strain of time
on the structure of the body has also
been great at this age, and many sue
cumb to the disease of the principal
organs. The million survey cd at the
outset has now dwindled down to bali
that number. The number OF deaths
at this age is considerable greater than
in the preceding decade. Consump-
ton Is still very destructive, and dis
eases of the BRAN aud diseases OF the
heart, show by the number oftheir vic
tins. the effect of the continued wear
aud tear. "To the age of 55, OF the
million singled out in Imagination
says the report, "near the middle Of
possible lifetime of humanity in its
present state, only 421, ,1l5 attain, and
from this point of time it is possible
to look ahead, and discover the par
ticular rocks, foes, collisions, tempests
to be encountered, to be dreaded, or
TO be weathered by the fleet on Its
way to the utmost butt OF existence,
and yery sea.mark OF its journeys
end"
At the age OF SO the number OF
men aud women surviving becomes
equal but from 55 and onward the