The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-02-18
MANS SPAN OF LIFE.
In Massachusetts Farmers, Judges,
Gentlemen" and Bricklayers Live
Longest.
From the Washington Star.

Al MabSdCnub6LJB IuQK6He
'Gentlemen" and Bricklayers Live
Longest.
From the Washington Star.
During thirty-four years and eight
months there died in the state Of Mas
sachusetts 16l, sol men over 20 years
Of age, whose occupations were specified
ia the registry Of their deccase. The
average age at which they died was
81 years The number Is so great and
the period covered is so long that by the
study of the classification of the employ
ment of those dead we can get a very fair
idea of the comparative ages at which
men in different occupations and in an
ordinarily healthy community are swept
away by death.
II is noticeable that of all who died the
cultivators of the earth attained the
highest average age, about 651<
years, and they made up more than
q fifth of the total number We all know
why farmers 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 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
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,
remain on the farm after attaining
an age fitting them for some pursuit.
Such are sent TO the cities TO choose a
trade or 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 SAC
tive mechanics abroad" such as brick
makers, carpenters, masons, tanners,
millwrights, riggers, calkers, skaters and
stonecutters. but the average age of the
] 200 Of them who died in Massachusetts,
during the period mentioned was much
below that of the farmers. 1t was only
about 52% years, little over
year more than the average
these outdoor trades the ship carpenters
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 stone-cutters
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 average
age at death was over 81. 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-fiye, 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 age on an average
above 80. They were first, the gentle
men, o.; second, the farmers,
IS; third the judges, a.; fourth
the light house-keepers, So;
fifth the basket-makers, 81, and
sixth, the pilots, 90. In some
countries clergymen are the longest-lived,
but in massachusetts they fell below all
these six classes.