The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1889-04-12
The LENGTH OF LIFE.
Studies In Longevity Based on the Omeisi
English standards.

In referring 20 the anniversary OF
to speak OF the advanced age OF those
Italian ecclesiastics who make up the
majority in the College OF Cardinals.
The mean age OF these Is about eighty,
and yet not one OF them displays any OF
the mental falterings which are sup
posed TO be incident 10 such advanced
years, and TO preclude, save In excep-
tional cases, continuance OF useful
ness and activity in the discharge OF
their public functions. IL might be
supposed, perhaps, that there Is some
thing in the Italian method OF life
which tends 10 prolong activity beyond
the average limit In other countries.
But the fact is that Italy Is not partic-
ularly favored in this respect. Taking
the whole number OF Italians. the per-
centage OF those over sixty is just z,
against IL in Germany, rs In Sweden,
s in England. 81 In Brazil, 90 in Bel
gium. and II in France. The life-in-
surance companies have made OF the
question OF longevity almost a deter
mined science. with an ample array Of
figures and rules. According TO these
the average man who has reached the
age OF sixty has still "A little less, and
the average woman who has reached
the age OF sixty little more, than four
teen years 10 live. But the expecta-
tion OF life does not. relatively, dimin-
ish with the advance Of years, Tor at
eighty the mans chance Is somewhat
less, and the woman's somewhat more,
than FIVE years and hall According
20 the English standards. tho persons
who live longest are members OF the
clergy, while in other pursuits
longevity ranks In the follow
ing order: Farmers, merchants,
soldiers. clerks, teachers and physi-
clans The death rate among the cler-
gy OF the Established Church OF Eng
land Is exceptionally low, being, in the
years OF active clerical service, only ten
In ono thousand OF population, whereas
that OF the English Catholic clergy is
80 per cent higher. The figures Of tho
insurance companies, which arc ample
regarding every point involved, show
that, the age OF fifty passed. the expoc-
tation OF life is moro than twice as
great for the temperate as for the ineb-
riate. tho proportion being as seven to
three. The proportion OF tho rich as
compared 10 the poor, ovor seventy. Is
about four 20 one. and IL is generally
higher among women than among men.
We suppose there is no country Of the
world where the science OF long life,
accompanied with good health, unim-
paired mental faculties, good digestion,
and great activity, Is better understood
than In France, and there, OF |, 900 per.
sons born. l20 reach the age OF seventy,
and the percentage continues 10 be high
until eighty-Gyc is passed. The nerv-
Gus, exciting, restless life OF most
Americans is not conducive TO extreme
longevity, and the steadily largo immi-
grafton Of those who have reached the
years OF manhood In other lands as emf
grants tends TO greatly reduce the
standard OF longevity in this country;
but the tables Of American insurance
companies show that IL is steadily ris
Ing. Should this increase continue, it
may not be many years before the rate
here will compare fayorably with what
long experience and repeated proof
have shown TO be the normal rate in
other lands N Y. Sun.