The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-02-28

earth. the one favored and inspired
mouth-piece of God unto man.
There are people in almost every
portion of the civilized globe who be-
liave this as sincerely as they do their
own individual existence, and their
faith is as firm and as solid as the
granite foundations of the mount
aims.
In presenting President Woodruff s
phrenograph. therefore, on this auspi-
cious occasion, when thousands will
meet expressly to celebrate his 90th
birthday. a special interest is added
TO that which naturally clusters around
him by virtue of his important office.
Until this examination was made,
the writer never had the pleasure of
shaking hands with and speaking TO
this silvery-haired veteran, and very
soon found it necessary to abandon
some Of his preconceived ideas IN re-
gard TO him.
One cannot help but notice-in the
first place his easy, unaffected. cour-
teous. vet business-like department
His honors. like his eyes, rest lghtiy
l1por him. and there is a striking ab-
ssnce of that studied reserve, that
freezing ceremony and dignined conde-
scension that is sometimes displayed
with less consistency and reason by
those VINO are Ololi.eu ia d iihNiC ~
authority
He 1lnconsciously diffuses about him
that magnetism or influence which inn
presses one with the thought that ne Is
in the presence of no ordinary lndi-
yidual There is business, energy and
thrift depicted on his countenance,
while every word and gesture gives
evidence of his wonderful mental and
physical activity.
Even at that age when the vast ma
jority of mankind have long ago gone
70 their final account, President Wood
ruff. with his hand resting on the
nineti=th milestone, stands today firm
iv. hopefully. yet calmly. and with a
keen eye. is still peering into the
future.
Now to study him first physiological
". the very natural question arises.
what is the secret of his longevity
Among the faithful members of the
church over which ne presides. there is
Widespread if not a unanimous be
lief (which is shared by President
Woodruff HIMSELF that his life has
bern prolonged by special act OF
T. fidence in answer to their united
ters at a time when, to all human
appearances, his life was ebbing away.
The writer does not regard it as any
mart of his business in these articles
to confirm. deny, or even to comment
on public opinion. but merely and only
10 deal with actual conditions as they
are revealed by the search-light of
science. and as It happens in this in
stance. there is no necessity for any
conflict between the faith of the Saints
and the physiological facts-aS l shall
endeavor 10 explain.
In estimating the chances of a per-
sons longevity. the student has nearly
if not quite dozen rules to guide him,
and in the case under considera ton.
every one of these rules or signs is
pronounced in bespeaking for Presi-
dent Woodruff an unusually pro-
tracted soiourn in this vale of tears. P"
To avoid any suspicion of making a
Virtue OF necessity we may briefly
point ont few of these Indications
and proofs.
IN the first place. as no one can exist
not even a day or an hour without
vitality. it follows therefore, that. other
things being equal. the more vitality
we possess. the longer we live. (This
qualifying clause of ''other things being
eouaI'i means a great deal, and must
not be overlooked.) Now President
woodruff has a distinct vital tempera
ment. 1t is far in excess of all others
as indicated by his robust physique,
his rather small stature, his fieshy ap-
pearance. his healthy complexion and
the general form and build of his body.
II will be noticed the shoulders are
broad and the chest is deep. indicating
excellent lung capacity; the neck is
short and thick. and the head is firm
" set on, the ilody showing easy and
rand circulation of the blood. the
cheeks. Just outward an6 a little down
ward from the nose are remarkably