The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-07-31


He had a son living, by his third wife, who
was 81 years of aye. This old mans only
food was milk and cakes; and he lived long
enough to see and know his descendants to
the fifth generation. Another Hungarian,
John ROvn, was ia years old and his wife
Sarah 164 years of age. and their great
grandsOns respectively 81 and 35 years old,
at the time of their death.
Great Britain records host of long lived
men and women. The celebrated Henry
Jenkins lived to the age of 1859; and Old
Parr who lived in the reigns of ten kings
and queens to 152 years. In work pub
lshed by James EastOn. at Salisbury. Eng
land. in the year 1899, the ages of 1712 per-
sons are recorded. all of whom considerably
exceeded 100 years; 1910 of that number
lived until between 100 and no; 277 from
11O to 100; "a from 12O to 13O; 26 from 100
to 40; from 14O to $50; from $50 to
100; 2 from 100 to ITO; and 3 from ITO to
1S5. We might continue to enumerate in
stances of longevity all over the world, suf-
fcient to fill two pages of this paper, were
it necessary; but we will content ourselves
by referring our readers, for further in.
stances of extraordinary lOngevty-and
proceed to the question at issue. viz: How
is it that the term of mans life has been
shortened to One-third its natural span?"
Scientific studies and philosophical con-
temptation. when pursued in moderation,
do not tend to shorten life, for the average
age of the ancient philosophers was SO or
100. Clergymen seem to be the longest
lived, as a class. in the entire community.
though many of our poets and prose writer's
live to good old age. But DR.. Benjamin
Rush. who was surgeon general in the
American army of the Revolution seems to
have struck the key note to the whole ques-
ton; at any rate, as regards the causes of
longevity. or the reverse. in the United
States. He considers temperate. regular
living. adherence to hygienc and sanitary
laws, and an inherited strength of consttu
ton. the most essential requisites for Ion
gevity. He says: MY experience has
prejudicial to long life than intemperance
in drinking, for l haye only met one man
of "a years of age who was a gluttOn, for
five who were occasionally incorporate in
drinking. and reached that age" He ex-
presses strong dislike to spirit drinking.
and considers it great shOrtner of life
He looks upon active engagement in busi-
ness. politics. religion and studious pur-
suits as great incentives to long life, if they
are not carried on to excess, so as to ex-
haust the mental and physical faculties,
''as they impart vigOr to the understand
ing, which is sympathetically conveyed to
and participated in by the physical func-
tions-thereby securing health and long
Iife'
But now the question will naturally oc-
cur to our readers: How is it that the in
dustrial classes. as body, are so short
lived?" They, the working bees" of the
community, do not, in fact, live out half
their days. While at the zenith of their
usefulness, with their intellectual forces
and mechanical skill at the maximum of
vigOr. are stricken down by disease and suf-
fering; their affections and mental faculties
disturbed. deranged and paralyzed; ending
in fearful majority of instances. in perma-
nent disablement or early death. The pro
life causes of this calamitOus state of things
may be easily discovered in the degenerating
influences existing in our cities and towns.
and the aimless, hand to- mouth existence
they lead. Living in crowded dwellings,
surrounded by poisonous exhalatiOns of all
kinds, their homes unattractive and un-
healthy, for want of care and cleanliness
impoverished by insufficient or improper
food; and unable. from the limited means
at their disposal, to indulge in the necessary
relaxation from continuous and inadequately
remunerative toll, their minds and bodies
become enorVateQ ana prOStrated; and, just
at the time when their service would be of
the greatest value to those dependent upon
them and the community at large-they are
cut off and annihilated as producing
power. and either become paupers or ''ten-
ants of Gods acre."
1t is not our province to point out rem
edy. or demonstrate where the responsible
ity for this condition of things may lie; we
can only state the fact. and leave the mat
ter in the hands of political and social econ
Omists. for them to find practical and ef-
fective remedy. FIG.
Charlest0wn Prison, Mass.