Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-08-31
FACTS ON LONGEVITY
THEY ARE MIXED IN WITH NOTIONS
THAT ARE SOMETIMES ODD.

Climate Is One of the Most Important Fac
tors In Determining the Length Of Life.
ireland, Great Britain, California and
.-,---4,.- Nv = --,os $500.
Whether human being or any other
animal lives eicht times the number NJ
Year., IL CAKES 70 grow or only i've times
Us long is a point not yet determined.
Some writer's argue that man grows till
he is 25. Therefore, as Hufeland urged,
he has the possibility of extending his life
to 200 years If he lived properly, as nature
dictates. Modern theories incline to the
other rule that on the average one grows
to the age Of 90, and five times the period
of growth is the limit Of human endur-
apce, no matter how carefully one lives
This theory will apply to horses, dogs,
cats, and, in fact, to almost all kinds Of
brutes one has opportunities Of studying.
When Thomas PARIS body was opened
OF his death, in his one hundred and fifty
second year, the state Of the organs on
which longevity most depends was found
SO perfect that 1t Is stated he might have
lived much longer If he had remained in
his country home instead Of being brought
up to London to BIO shown to the king
and thus subjected to a complete change
of diet and all the excitement of the new
life.
Climate Is supposed by many to have
greet influence upon human life. Scotland
and England rs well as Ireland have pro-
duced some remarkably specimens of long
livers. In fact islands seem to be favored
in respect to longevity. France Spain
and Italy have not furnished many speci-
mems Of centenarians, while Greece is still
famous as it was formerly. Too great a
degree of cold is prejudicial to length Of
life, as in Iceland and parts of northern
Siberia 1t Is not usual to meet people of
more than 60 or 70 years of age, though
in moderately cold countries life is long.
Between the years 1888 and 1874 there
died in England 1888 persons Of 100 years
and upward. OF these 532 were women
and 256 men, OF this list only ~ were
from London, while 1877 were from Wales,
showing, as all statistics seem TO prove,
that city life Is unfavorable to length Of
years, while the country and small towns
produce those who attain to extreme old
age Germany and Holland contain many
old people, but produce few instances Of
extreme long life as in Great Britain.
If person desires to live to be 100 or
$50 years of age southern California, near
Los Angeles or San Diego or somewhere
In that vicinity, has advantages of climate
that may be most favorable to long,
calm, happy life. A temperature that
never changes suddenly to great extremes
is surely best for the body, and condi-
ton of the elements that permits one to
live great deal in the open air, to sit by
open windows even when not out Of doors,
to lounge on open verandas and to dis
pense with close, heated rooms is the ideal
climate for the determined philosophical
centenarian. Too great moisture as we'll
as too much dryness is unfavorable to
long life, while amoderate degree of mois-
ture is conducive to longevity. Islands
like Great Britain and Ireland prove this
to be true by the long list of people they
produce Of a century and upward. 1t has
been charged by the English that Irish
women often eXaggerate their ages, but
If they have documentary evidence one
must believe them. Among Americans
however, most Of the very old people have
been born In Virginia, and though they
did not always remain there they laid the
foundation Of good, lasting constitution
in the Old Dominion.
But, no matter where q man was born,
the closer he follows nature, the more he
lives in the clean, open air and sleeps in
1t also, the less medicine he takes and the
fewer doctors bills he pays. Modern life
is too full Of luxury, dissipation, Corrup-
ton and vice to produce many men Of even
100 years of age. The higher the pressure
the shorter the duration of existence.
Moderation in everything-mode Of liv-
ing, temper, food, exercise and pleasure
is the true method Of preserving good
health and prolonging life If you think
it is too much trouble, then go on indulg-
ing in your excuses, mental and physical,
taking your drugs and lying in bed with
the knocker or bell tied up and muflled
and thanking the doctor if there is not
black Grape on the door.
A large number of centenarians whose
cases have been examined and reported
upon appear to have lost, some of them al
and some of them nearly all, their teeth,
| Sir Henry Thompson thinks that the use
of false teeth is injurious to the old folks,
as they are led astray and apt to eat more
than can be digested properly. The sys
tenn in such subjects instead Of requiring
moro nourishment to keep 1t up than II
the middle aged and young really requires
less. Excess would therefore be injurious
as 1t gives the organs too much to do, just
as so many persons take up some fad, a:
drinking hot water or cold water, to eX
cess
Natures rule is In all cases best. Only
drink when you are thirsty and only
enough to satisfy the thirst. ExpellinG
surplus water from the system merely
adds to the work of the organs without
affording any real compensating advan
tages. Dumb animals even know betteI
than to do such things. But, then, the!
do not have any doctor but old Mother
Nature, who prescribes by instinct. Al
to the false teeth, however, 1t is stated b!
Sir Richard Owen that they help mastica
ton, as of course they do, and therefor
assist digestion and assimilation. Lore
Brougham, who died at 80, and Lore
Lyndhurst, who lived to the age Of 81
both agree with Sir Richard against 81
Henry. Three to one and the three no
theorizing, but speaking from experience
Therefore in the great question, false teetl
or false theory, the point must be decides
in favor Of the former.-Chicago Tribune
Suggestion to the Singers.