Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-07
THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.
A Curious Phase of the Discussion on This
Interesting Subject-IlIusious of the Rich
and Poor-Coutentment Better Than
Refuv enn ffou

Curious Phase of the Discussion on This
Interesting subjecf-IlIusious of the Rich
and Poor-Coutentment Better Than
Rejuvennfion.
There is much discussion just now about the
discovery by DR.. Brown-Sequard of a prepara-
tion which will restore to the aged o portion of
their lost vigor. A curious phase of this dis
cussion has been the very generally accepted
conclusion that in the opinion of most men
such restoration would be of little value. The
vast majority of people appear to have had
enough of life by the time they reach the age
OF 20; and, looking back over the past, they are
not sufficiently charmed with the retrospect to
desire any indefinite continuation of the strug-
gle. They have suffered SO many disappoint-
ments, they have found themselves SO rudely
thrust aside, the brightest and best of their
friends have been called away, and the power
OF making new ones has been denied them.
The young are, perhaps, kind enough to them,
but they feel themselves here on sufferance,
end are quite ready to leave whenever the
summons may come.
1t is useless to deny the fact that this is an
age of disillusion and much uneaslness. There
were many movements started at the beginning
of this century which would strike us as alb
surd to-day. Anyone who is very enthusiastic
on any subject now is regarded with more or
less suspicion. Religion, charity, humanity, are
each closely questioned by thinkers, who doubt
the claims which formerly were accepted with
ont hesitation. In America there is but one
dream which is apparently unfaded, and that
is wealth.
-
The avaricious rich man is the one who will
pay great sums to-day for a larger lease of life
for his goal often shines as brightly before him
as it did in his youth, and no matter how old he
might live to be, he well knows that there would
still remain possible wealth to accumulate.
When a man like Jay Gould feels that the time
has come for the care OF his millions to be an
unbearable burthen, but is assured that few
hyperdermic injections will restore the same
old zest for million hunting. how quickly the
doctor and his elixir would be called in. and
what handsome fee will be paid In case OF
success.
To the poor 1t seems as though the rich man
oneht to want to live forever and be willing
topay any price for the privilege. Most OF us,
remarks the Providence Journal, can think of
80 many things that we could find to do had we
the wherewithal to carry out our plans. Life
would be SO easy and pleasant, we could
travela educate ourselves, surround ourselves
with all the comforts we now miss, and, IN
short make our existence pleasant and profit
able beyond the dreams OF the commonplace
lot we now endure. The last stronghold OF
romance to-day lies In the realm OF wealth.
There is nothing SO fascinating as to think
what we should DO If our rich and far-away uncle
should prematurely die and leave us y million.
How suddenly we should be transformed from
the slouchy, Indifferent. everyday creature we
now are to the Joyous, fascinating bird of
paradise, floating from one beautiful scene to
another, to the delight of all beholders and the
perfect satisfaction of ourselves.
Yet somehow those who are rich to-day do
not seem to be getting all the theoretical ad-
vantages from their wealth that they should
derive. The ordinary rich man is so apt to be
anxious and worried about so many things that
he cannot give himself up entirely to the en-
joyment of the passing hour. He finds SO
many difficulties to contend with not apparent
to the impoverished looker-on. In the first
place. he is SO apt to overdo the creature COM
forts Of life; luxurious food, drink and homes
are indulged In and bring in their train nu-
merous diseases which harrass his days and
nights.
Then other people do not take any interest In
him unless they see prospect of making some
thing out Of him. II he would participate in
the joys Of society he must keep up grand es-
tablishment and have gorgeous feasts where
all may oyereat themselves II he would asso-
ciate with the great financiers he must be
able to trade with them on equal terms, and
this requires much thought and study, or his
wealth is soon absorbed In useless enterprises
which nave been skillfully unloaded upon him.
He cannot travel unless he has strong ply
sique, capable OF enduring great fatigue, poor
ACCOMMODATIONS. bad 1000 and long intervals
OF ennul. Look what way ne VIII, he nnds his
LOT crcumscripeo In oirectons wnicn seem 10
the Door 10 Dc nmitless