The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-04-26
For The Democratic -AdrooGte.
LONGEVITY.



BY J. s.. O.
lhessrs. Editors :-Plutareh tells US |
that ancient Britons "began to grow old |
at hundred and twenty years. They
vent nearly naked, and lived on acorns, |
berries and water. They knew nothing
about dyspepsia or gout. Travellers 10 |
New Zealand tell us of natives who enjoy
excellent health and activity, "long after a
hnndred years" The Macrobians Of Ethi-
opla show similar record. The ancient
Gynosophist Of India, religiously con
lined their diet to fruit and vegetables.
Dr. Botswick late of New York said,
"fhese people were perfectly healthy, and
scarcely ever died natural death. They
lived to $50 aud 200 years, aud some
lived so long that, disguised with the world,
they became weary of their lives and com.
mitted themselves to the flames, encouraged
by the hope Of more perfect existence in
some other region Of the universe. With
the help Of all our doctors we manage to
live forty years or less, and then drop of
fast.
The average population to each physi-
clan is, in the United States, 900; Eng
land, 1872; France, 1914; Austria, $500;
Germany, 3OOO So then, with FIVE times
as many to dose us as our German friends,
we are able to do about half the work.
We hear Of German students who study
eighteen hours a day. Their Teutonic
blood may be too tonic for us, but we are
sure that Americans are not living out
half their days-not half the period that
they would live if living slower. Why,
even the animals that we domesticate, like
the horse and dog, only live dozen or
twenty years, while crows and their like
live century, aud the eagle five hundred
years, according to Tacitus. To renew
our youth like the eagles, we are to 90
back to more primitive simplicity. "Mod-
ern convenience" are other words for
diseases and death. Our food, attire aud
employments, all invite disease. OF old
Thomas Parr, who lived l52 years, the
poet Taylor says
Good wholesome labor was his exercise.
! Down with the lamb and with the lark arise
In mire and tOiling sweat he spent the day
/ And TO his team whistled the time away
The price o. our Western civilization,
is, in part, insanity as well as short lives.
This is the testimony of physicians. The
largest percentage of the insane is from
the English speaking race, This comes
from two causes-our feyerish excitement
of life shown in haste to be rich, to be
ahead Of our neighbors in everything, and
from intemperance in eating and drinking
DR.. b., already quoted, says :--Abstemi,
BUSINESS will surely conduce TO elasticity
and longevity. Ignorance of God and
Natures laws alone, kill thee Health
and life are pretty much in our owE
keeping"
The old aud well-known physician, DIR
Rush, said that he never met with single
instance Of person who lived to be eight,
years Of age whose ancestors had not beer
remarkable for their longevity. In some
instances the longevity was on the side o.
the father, others on that of the mother
but most generally it was common Il
both parents. The knowledge Of this fact
not only assists in calculating what ar,
termed the chances of life, but is useful L
the physician. From it he may calculat,
the duration Of life in chronic or acut,
diseases.
Let US hear the story Of the two Ara
bians The one lived 1920 b. c.; owned
1000 sheep, 5000 camels, 500 yoke OIL
oxen, 500 she asses, and very great
household, aud was the greatest of all the
men of the East. He said -"My DAYS
are swifIer than post they flee away,
they see no good; they are passed away as
the swift ships, as the eagle that hasteth
away in whose hand is the souls of every
living thing and the breath Of all man.
kind"
The other lived A. ID. 750, and had 700
eunuchs, 200 doorkeepers, $4,000 pieces
of tapestry, $4,000 carpets, 100 lions, with
a keeper for each; tree Of gold spreading
in eighteen branches, ON which sat yari-
ETY. of birds of gold, which machinery
made to warble their natural harmony; his
seraglio contained 5000 persons, and his
body guard numbered 10000, whose belts
and seimitars were studded with gold.
The last one said :-"I have now reign
ed 80 years in victory or peace, beloved
by my subjects, dreaded by my enemies,
and respected by my allies. Riches and
honors, power aud pleasure, have waited
on my call, nor does any earthly blessing
appear to have been wanting to my felici-
ty. have diligently numbered the days
of pure and genuine happiness which have
fallen to my lot;--they amount to fourteen.
o man, place not thy confidence in this
world"
Has time and human experience dimiu-
ished aught Of these solemn truths uttered
by the Patriarch Job and the Cdliph
Abdalrahman