Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1888-03-29
How to Live to Old Age.


The Boston Herald recently published
several interviews with prominent ply
sicians aud medical authorities on the
subject Of longevity. II is rather curl
Gus to note the unanimity with which
these learned doctors agree that any
man can live to be old. if he tries.
1t seems that. after all, long life Is
simply a matter of VOLT on. Like all
other attainmcnts it is the result of
prudence aud perseverance.
1t is said 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 Mt tho age of twenty-five. There
fore. man. If he conformcd to the law
that is applicable to other animals.
would reach the age of one hundred
and twenty-five years. So it seems
that the possession of an immortal soul
is very prejudicial 10 longevity.
Perhaps men might attain to this
great age if they could pass through
life with as little care, vexation and
nervous wear and tear rs an animal.
The moral of all this seems to be that
any man can live TO be a centennarian
If he lives like COW. Any man who
placidly feeds and never thinks. can be-
come Il patriarch in the land and dan
die Ills great, great grandchildren on
his knee.
Of course we all desire length of
days; but in all seriousness is it worth
the pricep A lifo concentrated in ac-
ton is better than life dissipated in
inactivity. A man who uses his nerves
brain and muscle, does more in sixty
years of work than his placid. inactive
neigbbor in one hundred years of vege-
tation. We are not merely vegetables
aud ruminants 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
mental constitution in doing the work
that comes TO w.. Doubtless, Shakes
peare might have lived round century
rs a human vegetable; but we are glad
that he died at fifty-four as Shakes.
pearo
But all this is no argument against
man taking care of himself. A man
who Stops about in the wet without
rubbers; who does not exercise ordi-
nary prudence in regard to tlannels and
mufllers; who sits in draughts and
sleeps in Theoretically sealed bedrooms.
is deserving Of no more praise than if
he lived like a 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-
sition TO i'll health, good health is n
duty and sickness n SIN. 1t is every
mans duty to live just as long as lie
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 one S
health is rs pcrnicious rs any other
kind of anxiety. There are health
cranks who make themselves sick in
trying to keep well. They sometimes
die of the Ovcrwork necessary to TAX
ing care of themselves. No man by
taking thought can add one cubit to
his stature. and it is as hard to make
yourself we'll by anxiety in regard to
the matter as it is to add eighteen
inches to y our height.
The way 10 become healthy and live
long is to be careful unconsciously
Habits of correct living cling to one as
tenaci 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 as naturally as
winking or breathing or any other OF
the uncon scious acts of fe. Perhaps
the best recipe for attaining good
health and old age Is this: Get into
the habit of living correctly; do it un
consciously. and don't make any fuss
about it. - Yankee Blade.