Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-12
LONG LIFE OR STRONG LIFE.
The Intere sting Conversation by the
Academy of Forty.

The Intert sting Conversation by the
Academy of Forty.
The eighth session of the Academy of
Forty proved one of the most interesting
in its history.
The subject Of conversation was Long
Life" with Miss Margaret Huddleson as
director. She opened the evening with
some pertinent remarks concerning over
work and oyer-hours as menace to health
and longevity. Miss Williams spoke Of the
well-known and little-obeyed rules for cor
rect living, by which life might be made
more fruitful and also prolonged. Miss
Edwards accused worry and anxiety as
more responsible for illness and early
death than overwork. Miss Garst struck
the keynote of the evening by arguing that
1t sometimes became duty to lay down
life rather than to preserve it: and that a
short life. we'll spent, might be most fruit
full of coed to the world. Miss Gillett ;n-
dicated that long life, especially if accom-
panied by suffering and helplessness, was
most undesirable Miss Morris spoke OF
Intellectual and spiritual vigor as hot al
ways dependent upon physical vigor, and
referred TO the beauty of the poems of
Heinrich Heine, himself sufferer. Miss
Williams said We owe perhaps to the fact
that Bryant was delicately organized and
oroered to spend his time out of doors, his
greatest work. Thanatopsis-the result of
the solitary days among the nils and
weeds about his home.
Mrs. Goodwin believed that long life was
not so important as usefulness while one
lived.
Mrs. Havens followed in a similar vein,
arguing that the strength and width of a
life was more essential than its length
II we are dead tomorrow morning." said
Mrs Ravens, what will be remembered CT
us that will justify us for having taken I'D
room in world full Of work for so many
fruitless years? What will be our epitaph.
save that of the dying miser, who wanted
his in poetry, but not so long that the
cutting of IT would be expensive, and it
read: 'Begotten; rotten; forgotten AS a
little boy on Capitol Hill asked his father
few mornings ago. What is the use Of a
world full of people, anyhow"
Miss English spoke of this incarnation as
valuable space for preparing for farther
life-a time when each succeeding dav
should give US loftier ideals, which reached
only presented heights still to attain From
ehis point of view long life is especially de-
sirab
Mrs. Sara A, Sper Ger brought the soaring
academists down from their damp cloud by
an array of most practical and Interesting
facts and observations, related to the In
surance of life. All these. she thought,
should be utilized in the training and edu-
cation of youth. A boy whose entire organ
ization indicates an "age Of expectancy
under forty years need not be cranned
with university education, but he should
take only what seems healthful and neces.
sary, and conserve every vital energy to
counteract the hereditary influence and if
possible, push ahead his age of eXpectan-
cy' to ripper years.
The guests of the evening were Miss Rice
and Mrs. Col. Grosvenor. Mrs. Grosvenor
brought i handful of choice pansies, Sc
each academist wore the flower of the So
ciety. Miss Anna Force English Joined the
association and was heartily welcomed
In the business meeting preceding con-
versation, the magister, Mrs. Havens, sug-
gested that as the society enlarged CON-
mftteas were needed to welcome members
and guests. and also to achieve an orderly
and gracious parting. She appointed the
following committees: Reception-Alice NJ.
Goodwin, Belle c. Morris, M. Catherine
Garst. Farewell-The director of the even
ing, assisted by Mary H Williams, Ruth
G. D. Ravens. Press notices-Margaret
Huddle ston.
Mrs Havens also urged a stricter per-
Torrance of duty upon the board of cen
sors.
The October session will be directed by
Mrs. Goodwin.
Mrs Spencer prese nted the magister with
volume of Judge MecArthur's lectures on
Laws of Business some of which are es-
pecially interesting and valuable to women