Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-30
MEMS DAILY DUTIES
Sometimes Determines the Length O,
Their Lives.

Ine1r Lives.
During thirty-four years and eight months
there died in the state of Massachusetts
16l, Sol men Of over twenty years of age,
whose occupations were specified in the
registry of their decease. The average age
at which they died was fifty-one years.
The number is SO great and the period COW
cred is SO long that by the study Of the
classification of the employment Of those
dead we can get a very fair idea Of the
comparative ages at which men in differ
ent occupations. and in an ordinarily
healthy community, are swept away by
death.
1t is noticeable that Of all who died the
cuitivators of the earth attained the highest
average age, about sixty-tive and a half
years, and they made up more than a fifth
OF the total number. We all know why farm
ers as a class. not only in this but in all
countries. should live to a ripe old age.
They enjoy good air and are free from
many OF 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. 1t 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 bever-
ages 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-
|
hitting 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 re-
tanned upon the farm.
The class next to the farmers In the av-
erage Of life is that class called "active me-
chanics abroad, such as brickmakers, car
penters. masons. tanners, millwrights, rig
gers, calkers skaters and stonecutters, but
the average age of the 900 Of them who
died In Massachusetts during the period
mentioned was much below that of the
farmers. 1t was only about fifty-two and
three-quarter years, a little over a year
more than the average age of all the
classes together. OF all these outdoor
trades the ship carpenters showed the
highest age-more than fifty-nine-and the
slaters who pursue a dangerous calling.
the lowest-about forty. The average age
OF all the others of these trades, except the
stonecutters and the brickmakers, was
about fifty-one and above the average Of
all the classes.
In the Professions.
Next to the active mechanics abroad
come the professional men, whose average
age at death was over fifty-one OF this
class the longest-lived were the judges and
justices. proverbially celebrated 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 at
tanned by any of the classes. The deaths
in only six different occupations were at an
age on an average above sixty. They were,
first, the gentlemen, sixty-eight: second,
the farmers. sixty-five; third, the judges
sixty-four; fourth the lighthouse keepers,
siXty-three; fifth, the baSket-makers, sixty
one. and sixth, the pilots. sixty. In some
countries Clergymcn are the longest-lived,
but il 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 fifty
nine. OF the professional men, those get
down as students died at the earliest age,
the average being only about twenty-thrce
then came the professors, well over fifty
seven years: then the lawyers, fifty-six
years: then the physicians. over fifty-five
years: public officers. fifty-five. Sheriffs,
constables and policemen died at the aver
age age of fifty-three while editors and re-
porters were gathered into the tomb be-
fore they had completed their forty-seventh
year. The lives of comedians 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
to forty-two, and the teachers died at about
the same age.
clerks come next after the professional
men. and one of the classes included under
this head that Of gentlemen exceeded all
others in it's average, over sixty-eight years
more than ffty-nine years, were the long
est-lived of this class, and then came bank
officers, nearly fifty-siX; merchants, over
fifty-four: booksellers about fifty-three:
manufacturers, ffty-two and inn-keepers
and brokers. fifty years.
The shortest-ived of their class were the
telegraphers. who died at the average age
OF twenty-eight. Clerks and bookkeepers
also died early, at the age of thirty-six. Rail-
road agents and conductors departed this
life on the average ut about forty years,
and druggists and apothecaries at forty
two. while saloon and restaurant keepers
were put to final rest at forty-one. Next
in order came the active mechanics in
shops and the laborers of no special trades
the average of both being a little short of
fortv-eight. OF the first class the longest
lived were the coopers their average age
at death being about fifty-nine years. Next
to them. total abstinence people will be sur
prised to learn, came the disti!lers. fifty
eight years.