The herald., 1893-12-11
HOW LONG THEY LIVE
IMPORTANT CONCLUSIONS BASED ON
RELIABLE STATISTICS.

Massachusetts Records Show That Farm
ers Live Longest-Then Come Active Me-
chanics ead Judges-Telegraphers and
Bookkcepers Arc Short Lived.
During "a years and 8 months there
died III the state of Massachusetts, 161,-
ool men over 20 years of age, whose oc-
cupations were specified in the registry
OF their decease. The average age at
which they died was 81 years. The num-
Der is SO great and the period covered is
so long that by the study of the classif-
cation of the employment of those dead
we can get very fair idea of the COM
parative ages at which men in different
occupations and in an ordinarily healahy
community are swept away by death.
1t is noticeable that OF all who died
the cultivators Of the earth attained the
highest average age-about 65a years.
They made up more than fifth of the
total number. We all know why farm
ers as class, not only in this, but in all
countries, should live to ripe old age.
They enjoy good air and are free from
many of the cares that beset those living
In the cities, to say nothing of the con-
slant noise and excitement which de-
stroy the nerves and rack the system.
1t is rarely that farmer dies before his
head is gray. Farmers as a rule, too,
do not to any great degree indulge in al
coholic beverages. One important fact
must be taken into consideration con-
corning the farmer and his age, which Is
that the weaklings of the farmers fami-
ly do not as a rule remain on the farms
after attaining an age fitting them for
some pursuit. Such are sent to the
cities to choose trade or a profession,
and only the strong and healthy ones
who are fitted for the work are retained
upon the farm.
The class next to the farmers in the
average of life is that class called ''active
carpenters, masons, tanners, millwrights,
riggers, call1ers, skaters and stonecutters,
but the average. age of the Il, 900 of them
who died In Massachusetts during the
period mentioned was much below that
Of the farmers. It was only about 52f
years-a little over q year more than the
average age of all the classes together.
OF all these outdoor trades, the ship car
penters showed the highest age-more
than 59--and the skaters, who pursue
dangerous calling, the lowest about 40.
The average age OF all the others of
these trades. except the stonecutters and
the brickmakers, was about 81, and
above the average Of all the classes.
Next to the active mechanics abroad
come the professional men, whose aver
age age at death was over 81. OF this
class the longest lived were the judges
and justices, proverbiaily celebrated for
their great years. They lived on the
average GA years and led all the trades
and professions except the farmers, over
65, and those denominated as gentlemen,
6S, the highest average age attained by
any of the classes. The deaths in only
six different occupations were at an av-
erage above go. They were, first, the
gentlemen, 6s; second, the farmers, 65;
third, the judges, "a; fourth, tho light
house keepers, 6S; fifth, the basketmak-
ers, 81, and sixth, the pilots, 60. In some
countries clergymen are the longest
lived, but in Massachusetts they fell be-
low all these six classes, the average age
of the 1 100 of them who died during the
"a years being only little above SO.
OF the professional men, those set
down as students died at the earliest age,
the average being only about 90. Then
came the professors, well over 81 years;
then the lawyers, SO years; then the
physicians, over 80 years; public officers,
55. Sheriffs, constaOles and policemen
died at the average age of SO, while ac-
tors and reporters were gathered into
the tomb beforethey had completed their
forty-seventh year. The lives of comedians
were also short. hardly reaching 80 years
on the average, and dentists were cut
down at an average age of AZ. The art
lists also died early, their average age be-
ing "A years. The musicians lived only
to AZ, and the teachers died at about the
same age.
The merchants, fnanciers, agents and
clerks come next after the professional
men, and one of the classes included un-
der this head, that of gentlemen, exceed
ed all others in its average, over 6S years.
The bankers, who lived on the average
to more than SO years, were the longest
lived Of this class, and then came bank
officers, nearly SO; merchants, over 54;
booksellers, about 53; manufacturers, SO,
and innkeepers and brokers. so years.
The shortest lived of their class were
the telegraphers, who died at the aver
age age of 2S. Clerks and bookkeepers
also died early-at the age of SO. Rail
road agents and conductors departed
this life on the, average at about 40
years, and druggists and apothecaries at
AZ, while saloon and restaurant keepers
were put to final rest at Al. Next in
order came the active mechanics in
shops and the laborers of no special
trades, the average of both being little
short of AS. OF the first class the long
est lived were the coopers, their average
age at death being about 40 years. Next
to them, total abstinence people will be
surprised to learn, came the distillers-
58 years. ashington Star
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