The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-04-28
How to live to Ola Ara

LIE Boston herald recently puoilsneo
several interviews with prominent ply;
sicians and medical authorities on the
subject Of longevity. 1t is rather curl
Gus to note the unanimity with wliiel,
these learned doctors agree that any
man can I've to be old. if he tries.
1t seems that. after all. long life is
simply a matter Of VOLT on. Like all
other attainments il is the result of
prudence and perseverance.
1t is sad that all animals but man
live to an age five times the period of
their attainment Of full! physical ma
turity: Man attains full physical ma
turity at the age Of twenty-five. There
fore. man; if he conformed to the law
that is applicable to other animals,
would reach the ago OF one hundred
and twenty-five years. So it seems
that The possession of an immortal soul
is very prejudicial TO longevity.
Perhaps men might attain to this
great age if they could pass through
life with as tile care. vexation ana
nervous wear and tsar as an animal.
The moral of all this seems to be that
any tiian can live 10 be d eentenuarian
if he ltes like COW: Any man who
placidlS feeds and never lib nks. can be-
come patriarch in tho land and dan
die his great. great grandchildren on
his knee.
Of course VIC all desire length Of
days; but in all seriousness is it worth
the price, A life concentrated in ac-
ton is better than n life dissipated in
inact witty. A man who uses his nerves
brain and muscle. does more in sixty
years of work than his placid. inactive
neighbor in one hundred years Of vege-
tation. We are not merely vegetables
and rnmnants whose principal indus
try consists in absorbing sustenance,
and sleeping. We are free agents who
shape our own destiny. and who can
wilfully wear out our physical and
menta! constitution in doing the work
that comes 10 us. Doubtless, Shakes.
peare might have lived round century
MS human vegetable; but we are glad
that he died at iifty-four as Shakes
peare.
But all tbs is no argument against
a man taking care of himself. A man
who Stops about in the wet without
rubbers; who docs not exercise ordi-
nary prudence in regard to ilannels and
mnfflers; who sits in draughts and
sleeps in hermet cally sealed bedrooms.
is deserving of no moro praise than if
he lived like beast. 1t is the duty of
every man to keep himself in the best
possible condition for doing his work.
When there is no hereditary predispo-
s'tion 10 i'll health. good health is q
duty ami sickness n SIN. 1t is every
mans duty TO I've just as long as he
can and faithfully do his work. TO do
this he must look out for his health like
rational creature.
But excess of care in regard to ones
health is rs pernicous as any other
kind of anxiety. There are health
cranks who make themselves sick in
trying to keep well. They sometimes
die of The overwork necessary to tax
ING care of themselves. No man by
taking thought can add one cubt to
h 8 stature. and it is rs hard 10 make
yourself well by anx ely in regard to
the matter as it is to add oghteen
inches TO ' cur height.
The way 10 become healthy and live
long is to be careful unconsciously.
Habits of correct living cling to one as
tenac ously as hab is of bad living
Youthful training in the right direc-
ton is everything. Ifyou once learn
to live in accordance with the laws OF
health You will do it rs naturally as
winking or breathing or any other of
the uncon scious acts of f.. Perhaps
the lest recipe for attaining good
health and old age Is this: Get INTO
tho habit of living correct do it un
consciously. and don't make any fuss
about it, Yankee Blade.