The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-11

Mr.. Blaine is on his deathbed, having
Just about completed his 63d year. When
Secretary Window died at 90 his death
was quoted as another illustration of what
Is termed ''the fatal age of g." The truth
is that 63 il not a fatal age as 4 rule to
persons In any walk of life who had good
original powers Of endurance and physical
vigor and have not abused their vital pow
ers by dissipation, overwork or extraordi-
nary physical exposure, and best Of all
have not found the serenity of their de-
Ginning years disturbed by financial straits
or perplexing and vexatious responsible
ties. In both England and America lit.
erary men, lawyers, statesmen, ciergymen,
doctors, scientists, philosophers and mer-
chants who live tomperately and do
not allow themselves 10 be pressed
by pecuniary .anxieties after middle life
have generally exceeded 20 years of age
and not few have reached So Palmers-
ton at so could ride a dozen miles on horse
back without fatigue: Brougham, Lynd-
hurst, Taleyrand, Wellington, Soult,
Marmont. BernadDtte, Gortschakof, Todle.
ben, Kinglske, Tners. Lander, Barry
Cornwall, Rogers, the Marquis of Welles-
ley, Wordsworth, Moore. DR.. Dollinger.
De Qaincey. Leigh Hunt, Moltke. En-
pefor William the First of Germany,
Browning. Carlyle, are some of Europe's
famous dead who reached good old age.
Gladstone. MacMahon, Canrohert and
kossuth are considerably past 50.
A majority of the famous soldiers and
sailors of Europe of this century all lived
TO exceed IS, and several of them passed
beyond 50. Whatever hardships these
men of action suffered their lives after
middle years were serene and free from
pecuniary anxiety. The Garrisonian abo-
litionists all lived to An Old age. Not one
OF them died before -, and a majority Of
them touched or passed 50 American
statesmen, even those who, like Webster
and Clay, did not live temporarily, have
generally seen more than three score and
ten. Lincoln was by bodily and mental
constitution destined to live 10 great age
had he not been cut OF untimeiy by mur-
der /; is safe TO say that American STATES
men have averaged considerably ovel 70
wears. many of them have reached 50 and
some exceeded it considerably before death
touched them.
The race Of Washington pioneers, both
men and women. are famous for length Of
days. despite their early lives Of poverty
and hardship. Women on the whole suffer
less hardship than men. are not So prone
10 dissipation and lead as rule more
serene lives than men. Serenity Of life
after so is essential TO great length of days,
and this serenity is impossible without
freedom from the pressure of pecuniary
anxiety.
In the case OF Mr.. Blaine his early COL
lagse is due something doubtless 10 over
work under high pressure OF public re-
spsnsibiity fer nearly forty years. NJ.
Rlalpe We suspect. however, did not OBJ
serve the laws o; health as carefully as he
should ia order 80 obtain great length Of
DAYS. lie had no immoral habits; his
domestic life was pure; be did not
uss tobacco nor ardent spirits. bus
IL did not take exercise enough
fer man of se3eu.aFy tie and intellectual!
occupation. and he loved 70 lingcr over
good dinners. He was 4 brilliant taiSer,
enjoyed the society of his fellow men, and
AZ rs disposed To give his stomach 200