The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-08-30
HOW TO GROW OLD.
Several weil-known Men Give the conclu-
sions of Their Life Experience.

Several of the metropolitan papers have
published letters from prominent men
of GREAT age, who give some directions
for growing old in the best way:
Ex-TTnited States Senator James W.
Bradbury, of Augusta, aged go, says:
at Inherited a. good constitution
| While NOT large or feshy, l was strong
| and y;gorous in youth. / was accus-
| TONED to work in the open air on the farm
| of NV father who was physician, until
I was II years old, when | began to fit
for college. This habit OF open air labor
or mower of withstanding disease I
| think that have experienced the benefit
| of r. ali through my life At the age of
| GO I had n very severe sickness--complet
nervous prostration from overwork in
| nv profession-which required the
accumulated vitality of my early years
and three years tocarry me through have
| its. except that ! began to withdraw
| from the more active lahors of my pro-
! fession after had reached the age of IS.
| NV life has been busy one, and | have
had little time or taste for recreation.
I have never been good sleeper; usually
waking in the night and remaining awake
| one or two hours. l average about seven
| hours per night. / find it necessary, for
| nv health to be careful as to my food
| combining myself to that which agrees
with me, to take exercise in the open air,
| by short drives, and, above all, to keep
my mind active and cheerful"
| General Neal Dow, aged 81, says:
"I credit my healthy old age largely to
| healthy stock. My ancestors on both
sides were Friends; well-to-do farmers,
| leading Industrious peaceful, happy
- +ha,,, 7f,h Nor
men and women. My life has been far
more active and busting than theirs,
| but equally sober, abstaining always
| from alcoholics and narcotics-asra mat
ter of conscience as well as of health. |
am now, as always, free from aches and
pains, enjoying my. later years that God
has kindly conceded to me, and glad,
as my sun sinks rapidly in the west, to
witness the wonderful progress the world
is making in far better ways of living.
Cassius M. Clay, aged SO, says:
"Iwas born of..healthy and temperate
parents and was robust child, and most
of my time was spent in the open air.
Athletics plays fishing and hunting
were life pleasures In the daytime faith
er and I slept outdoors AS old age APP
preached / subjected all my habits to
larly, selecting wholesome food and
avoiding excuses of all sorts, eating less
at night especially I have INDUCED in
but few Stimulants not using spirits,
tea or coffee habitually, and tobacco
never. | will be SO on October 18th next
and can hardly say have changed any
of my habits absolutely | sit under
trees, hold communion with flowers,
trees and birds. read much; my favor
ties are of the school of Burns and Dick
ems in light literature | always require
nine hours sleep, and go over that now
rather than fall below
My father, Green Clay, never allowed
his children to be aroused from slumber,
but left the time to nature All ami
mails incline to sleep after eating, yet
night is a bad time to eat much or unsafe
food. The Spaniards well said fruit was
golden in the morning, silver at noon
and lead at night assign my healthy
old age to life spent in the open air.
1t is not the night air which hurts, but
the foul air of close rooms, when oxygen
is exhausted and foul elements left in
place. / have full suit of white hair
Il rarely wear a hat. | excelled in most
sports of my times-running, wrestling
scuffiing, handy, base ball, jumping,
dancing, riding on horseback, hunting,
fishing and all that. Modern athletics
dependent upon training think a
great mistake The animal force should
be regularly and judiciously developed
and sustained. Most persons set me down
as probably reaching 100 years. But can
hardly hope for that as equanlmlty of
temper is great factor in long life, and
church and state are SO corrupt that the
most patriotic would be filled with de-
spair
Elizabath Cady Stanton, aged IS, says:
+" I was strong from childhood, and
when a girl was on horseback daily,
both winter and summer. Driving, card
,,1o nnuaI rap6ino the fHUOr-
tie recreations of my old age. sleep
ten hours daily, and as to food observe
temperance and regularity. | inherited
from both parents an equable, happy
temperament, good head and a purpose
in life. That / am hale and hearty at
rs | ascribe to lifelong interest in the
questions that most vitality affect the
welfare of humanity"
Frederick Douglass, aged 76:
81 was strong and healthy in my youth
and spent the greater part of my time
in the open air-chiefiy at hard manual
labor. now sleep seven hours and eat
moderately three times a day. | assign
my healthy old age to a good constitution
correct habits and devotion to great
cause"
F.Nicholls Crouch, author of "Kath-
leen Mavourneen," aged So:
From youth to old age have been
strong and healthy, Ihe result OF mental
energy, activity OF body and muscular
exercise. now sleep six hours daily and
enjoy two hearty meals but never eat
between meals. 1t is the abuse of food
that gives rise to bodily suffering Never
suborn self, will or desire to satisfy the
cravings of appetite. I act as engineer
to my body. When inclined to. be fever
ish slacken speed; if weakened by exer-
tion turn off on a side track, let off all
propelling power and rest till sense tells
me the machine is again in working
order"
Edward Everett Hale, aged 70:
"When young took the childish
diseases severely, but came through
them without unfavorable sequels We
were simply brought up, in household
neither poor nor rich. In recent years
my favorite recreation has been to go out
of doors, into the midst of natures
work as one sees it in the indebted coun-
try. sleep nine hours at night and one
in the middle of the day. As to food,