The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-24
VERY OLD PEOPLE.

Whatever may have been the case in past
centuries the Psalmist's span of life, three
score years and ten, is much exceeded by
large numbers of people. perhaps in all
countries. though doubtless not by the aver
age. The average, indeed, is much below
three score and ten. 1t has been ascer-
tanned by DR.. Ogle, who is head of the de-
partment of vital statistics in the General
Register Office of England, that out of
| 657, 900 males living at % years of age $4,000
die before attaining Is, and $50, 600 die before
reaching Is. The expectation of a male life
at % is S5.6s years. or the age of 81. But
46 out of 100 will not live to that age.
Centenarians are an exceptional class but
their number is much greater than is sus-
pected. Recently there died in the southern
part of California an Indian whose age was
computed from $50 to 100. and although re-
tanning the use of his faculties he looked
his age, too. In the East there still lives
the widow of a soldier of the war of 1872,
who is credited with 115 years. 1t may be
assumed that there are scores Of people who
have passed their one-hundredth year and
are still hale and WELL and anxious to ''con-
time to grow DID," as venerable member
Of the Roihschild family once remarked to
our population as factor, we ought to have
considerably larger number of centena-
risns than the United Kingdom. Last year
there were 81 persons of the age Of 100 and
upward who passed away in England, Scot
land and Ireland. The sexes were equally
divided-17 on each side. The united ages of
the 81 give total OF $3.50 years. One is said
TO have been 100 years old. two 10, two Jos.
+hraa "a.
lC2. six l01. and three 100 Out OF an obitu-
airy list advertised in a journal containing
7i79 names no fewer than 1151 had passed
/ the age Of so.
1t is remarkable that many OF The GEN.
tenarians were in good health almost to the
/ day Of their death. One venerable lady
owed her sudden demise to a fail. Others
1 could read without spectacles. Not a few
had all their wits about them and had very
/ Tetentive memories, probably not about re-
/ cent occurrences but about those of early
lie. A few were bedriGden, but others
could walk about as usual and even work
A small proportion died in the poorhouse,
but ala not 90 there until they had passed
100 years. The children of some are over
50 years. 0ae of the group, only one. is
described as a teetotaler. He eschewed
bNtL4 tSEA anu AUBAtCUs uo Wutlt u iHlo
venerable band were born and reared before
temperance principles took shape as an
eleyating influence Of domestic ard social
life. II 80 minded they might have been
among the first to take the pledge. In the
days of their youth il was the custom to
| drink immoderately at table. Those were
the times when bon cireurS drank two,
three Oh five bottles of wine at dinner. and
were described by the quantity they con-
sumed. Ia Scotland they not only drank
earet and madeira but whisky, aud to
make the carousal lively the whisky
glasses had the foot knocked of. But it is
quite certain that these centenarians were
innocent OF any abuse Of either diet or
drink. Theirs must have been simple
food. easily digested. They must also have
had patient, healthy work, with regular
hours and a proper allowance Of sleep.
The energetic spirits of this generation may
be inclined to regard such life as vegeta-
tive. but in spite of sneers it is wiser to re-
gard it as making the best use OF the gift Of
life to prolOng il to the utmost Those who
burn the candle at both ends BY excitement
and Indulgence do not live as a rule half
century. Only one Of the thirly-four cen
tenarians who died in the United Kingdom
last year followed a profession. He was
ala