The Helena independent., 1894-11-29
LOYG-LIVED AnERICANS.
Some Of Them Verltable Rivals Of Methu.
saleh,

saleh.
This western hemisphere has many
sorts OF climates, but they all have In
common this encouragement, In excep-
tional cases IL Is true, of long life. II
has been supposed that the exceedingly
variable aud violent climate Of some re-
gions OF our country IL hostile TO long
life. But II we study the matter la view
OF multitudes Of instances, we gee that
II IL not climate, or even hardship. that
shortens life In the United States, for in
stance, but that II ia worry and care,
or, In other words the furious pace at
which we try 10 live. No attempt Is
made to defend the climate OF New Eng
land, and yet the number OF people who
have attained great age IN IL IL post
tive proof that the climate II not alto
gether In fault for mortality. IL is prob
able that the record would be very diff
ferent II we had paid as much unwor-
ried attention 10 growing old as we
have to fighting Indians. subduing for
ests. making money and getting ahead
OF our neighbors. We are still as a ma
tion very young. some physical condi-
tions have been against us, and there
has not yet been time enough 10 spare
To show what the country can do for
us In the way OF longevity. In New
England they are less than three lives
from the landing OF the Pilgrims.
Among the Pilgrim records at Plymouth
is a letter from Peregrine White, who
was born on the Mayfiower when IL lay
in Provinceton-the first white child
born In New England. Following that
Is letter from an estimable Pilgrim
deacon, who lived To be 1906 years old.
"A nd Nrh hn
grine White. Following that is n let
ter from lady still living at the age
OF ninety-two, who says that she re-
members the aged deacon of LOG years.
Thus less than three lives takes us back
10 the landing and To the rock, which
Is almost as mysterious as the aerolite.
or black stone, in the Knaba at Mecca,
since II Is like no other piece of granite
on the Massachusetts coast II may
be mortifying 10 see that we have no
greater antiquity than this. but the ef-
forts Of three persons to cover II is en-
couraging.
But II is in other regions of the CONT
nent that we must at present look for
the extraordinary capacity OF the New
World for producing old people. Well
authenticated are cases OF mission In
dians I'm Southern California who reach
ed the ages OF l20, 1870, and $40. In that
equable region all the great functions OF
nature go on with regularity, so as 10
induce a long running OF the machine.
But besides this, these old men are prob
ably free from care, from religious
doubts and scepticism and political wor-
ry and ambition, and II is testified that
they were simple in their habits, tenn
perate and even abstemious, drinking
only water. and eating little but corn,
which they fitted for digestion by the
vigorous action OF their own grinders
l Lieutenant Gibbons founn az village
in Peru one hundred persons over the
age OF 100 and either he or another
credible explorer reports another man
aged li0. He was a very temperate
man, ate his food cold. and never ate
meat except In the middle of the day.
In the highlands Of South America the
habit of old age Is a long established
one. In Ecuador centenarians are COM
mon. The census of 1854 found In the
town OF Pilaguin. II 900 feet above the
sea level. abo ut 1000 inhabitants, among
whom were 100 over 20 yoare OF age,
thirty about so, eleven over 80, five over
100 and one who was llb. Not many
years ago died in Ambato woman
named N. Cucalou, who was ll4, ana
one Don Jose Soto, aged 100 In the
wear lNfu. w lllE AbNi va iHhil'ft 'tNI' ~
Morales, a vigorous carpenter TO the end
OF his life. who was well on In years and
the steward Of the Jesuits when they
were expelled from their property In
l7G7. In 1888 n Witness In judicial trial
was proved to be li0 years old, having
been horn on the night OF the great
which destroyed the old
town OF Ambato In 169S. How much
longer this man lived who was Graded
by an earthquake. Ia not yet reported.
Mexico. Notwithstanding Its revolutions,
IL equally favorable to longevity, In
the state Of Vera Cruz there died Il man
in 1898 who was 1877 years old. That he
was carried of prematurely we have
reason Ia suppose for at Telucu. where |
The register is officially and carefully |
kept. there died only few years Rgo a |
man aged l92.-From the Editors
Study" by Charles Dudley Warner, in |
Magazine for December.
Thanksgiving dinner from is to p. m |
on Thanksgiving day at the Helena Cafe |