The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-11-29
FARMERS LIVE LONGEST.
Then Mechanics and Judges-TeIegra-
piers and Bookkeepers shortIived.

piers and BOOkkeepers ShOrtlived.
During thirty-four years and eight
months there died in the state of Mas
sachusetts 161.sO1 men Of over twenty
years OF age, whose occupations were
specified in the registry Of their de-
cease. The average age at which they
died was tlfty-one years. The number
is so great and the period covered is
so long that by the study Of the CLASH
/ fcation of the employment of those
dead we can get a very fair idea OF the
comparative ages at which men in dif-
terent occupations, and in an ordinarily
healthy community, are swept away by
death.
Il is noticeable that of all who died
Z the cultivators Of the earth attained
+ the highest average age, about sixty
five and one-half years, and they made
/ up more than fifth of the total num-
/ Der. We all know why farmers as a
: class, not only in this but in all coun-
( tries, should live 10 a ripe old age. They
enjoy good air and are free from many
! or the cares that beset those living in
/ cities, TO say nothing of the constant
! noise and excitement which destroys
/ the nerves and racks the system II is
rarely that a farmer dies before his
! head is gray. Farmers as a rule, too,
! do not, TO any great degree, indulge
/ in alcoholic beverages. One important
/ fact must be taken into consideration
concerning the farmer and his age,
which is that the weaklings Of the
! farmers family do not, as a rule. re-
/ main on the farm after attaining an
age fitting them for some pursuit Such
are sent to the cities TO choose a 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 10 the farmers in the
/ average OF life is that class called
active mechanics abroad" such as
/ bricklayers, carpenters. masons. tanners
! millwrights, ringers, callSers, skaters and
+ stonecutters, but the average age Of the
I 1000 of them who died in Massa chusetts
during the period mentioned was much
J below that Of the farmers. 1t was only
4 about fifty-two and three-uuarter years.
/ a little over a year more than the aver
! age age of all the classes together. OF
! all these outdoor trades the ship car
! penters showed the highest age-more
| than fifty-nine-and the skaters, who
pursue dangerous calling. the lowest
! about forty. The average age of all the
! others Of these trades, except the stone
| cutters and the bricklayers, was about
/ fifty-one, and above the average of 6ll
| the classes.
Next to the active mechanics abroad
] come the professional men, whose aver
| age age at death was over fifty-one.
/ of this class the longest lived were the
| judges and justices, proverbially cele-
| brated for their great years. They lived
| on the average siXty-fOur years, and led
! all the trades and professions except
| the farmers. over sixty-five, and those
! denominated as gentlemen. siXty-eight.
| the highest average age attained by any
| Of The classes. The deaths in only six
| different occupations were at an average
! above sixty. They were first. the gentle
| men, siXty-eight; second the farmers,
sixty-five; third the judges, siXty-foUr;
| fourth, the lighthouse keepers, sixty
| eight: fifth the basket makers. sixty
| nd af-th no gixfN n
| countries clergymen are the longest
| lived. but i'm Massachusetts they fell
| below all these six classes, the average
! age Of the 100 of them who died during
the thirty-four years being only a little
! above ifty-nine.
OF the professional men those set down
/ as students died at the earliest age, the
| average being only about twenty-three;
! then came the professors. well over
J nfty-seVen years; then the lawyers, hfty-
six years; then the physicians, over nifty
| five wears: public officers, nfty-nVe.
| Sheriffs constables and policemen died
| AT the average age Of ffty-three, while
| actors and reporters were gathered into
! the tomb before they had completed their
| fOrty-SeVenth year. The lives OF come
dians were also short. hardly reaching
| thirty-nine years on the average, and
| dentists were cut down at an average
| age Of fOrty-two. The artists also died
| early. their average age being forty
! four years The musicians lived only 10
| forty-two, and the teachers died at about
| the same age.
The merchants. financiers, agents and
! clerks come next after the professional
! men, and one OF the classes included un-
| der this head. that of gentlemen, eX-
| oeeded all others in its average, over
! sixty-eight years. The bankers, who
| lived on the average to more than fifty
| nine years, were the longest-lved of this
| class. and then came bank officers, near
| ly fifty-siX: merchants. over ffty-fOur:
| booksellers. about fifty-three; manUfac-
| turers, ffty-twO, and inn-keepers and
| brokers. fifty years.
| The shortest-lived of their class were
| the telegraphers, who died at the average
| age of twenty-eight. Clerks and book
| keepers also died early, at the age OF
| thirty-six. Railroad agents and con-
! ductOrs departed this life on the average
| at about forty years. and druggists and
apotheca ries at forty-two. while saloon
and restaurant keepers were put TO final
rest at forty-One. Next i'm order came
| the active mechanics in shops and the
| laborers of no special trades the average
| Of both being a little short Of forty
eight. OF the first class the longest
lived We're the coopers. their average age
| at death being about forty-nine years.
! Next to them, total abstinence people
| will he surprised TO learn. came the dis
| tillers, fifty-eight years.-Washington
| Star.