The Progress., 1897-06-26

ties of their lifetime, such persons are very |
rare. The majority of the vicious die IN |
their thirties, and fewer reach the forties. |
and they are exceedingly scarce In the
ffties. Longevity has not been the char-
acteristic of the most of those who have
reached high places in that or this coun-
try. In many cases their wealth leads
them into indulgences, or their honors
make them reckless, or their opportunities
of doing wrong are multiplied into the
overwhelming, and 1t Is as true now as
when the Bible first presented 1t, 1.-The
Longevity Is not q positive proof OF good
ness. but it is prima facie evidence In that
direction A loose life has killed hun
dreds Of eminent Americans. A loose life
is now killing hundreds of eminent Amer
leans and Europeans. The doctors are
very kind, and the certificate given after
the distinguished man of dissipation Is
dead, says, "Died of congestion of the
BRAIN" although it was delirium tremens,
or "Died of cirrhosis of the liver" al
though it was n round of libertinisln, or !
"Died of heart failure" although 1t was
the vengeance of outraged law that slew
him. Thanks, doctor, for you are right
in saving the feelings of the bereft house
hold by not being more specific. Look,
all ye who are in high places of the earth,
and see one who has been piled by all the
temptations which wealth and honor and
the secret place of palaces could produce,
and yet next Tuesday she will ride along
in the presence of 1000. 600 people, II they
can get within sight of her chariot, In
vigorous old age, no more hurt by tho
splendors that have surrounded her for IS
years than is the plain country woman
come down from her mountain home IN
an oxcart to attend the Saturday market
ing. The temptations of social life among
the successful class have been SO great that
every winter Is u holocaust OF human
nerves, and the beaches of this tossing sea
of high life are constantly strewn with
physical and mental and moral shipwreck.
Beware, all We successful ones. Take q
GOOD look at the venerable queen as she
rides through Regent street and along the
Strand and through Trafalgar square and
| by the Nelson monument. What Is the
use of your dying at 40, when you may
| just as we'll live to be 80?
If you are doing nothing for God or the
| race, the sooner you quit the better. But
| If you arc worth anything for the world 8
betternent, in the strength of God and
| through good habits, lay out n plan for q
life that will reach through most Of n CEN
fury. How many people arc practically
| suicides from the fact that their german
| dizing or their recklessness or their DELI
ance of dietetics and plain sanitary law cuts
short their days! Indeed, SO great Is the
| temptation of those who have bountiful
tables and full wine closets that Solomon
suggests that instead of putting the knife
into the meat on their plate they direct the
edge of 1t across their throat. Proverbs
xiii, !, "When thou sittest to eat with a
ruler, consider diligently Nhat Is before
thee, and put knife to thy throat II thou
be a man given to appetite. believe
more people die Of improper eating than
die of strong drink. The former causes nc
delirium or violence and works more grad
ually, but none the less fatally. Queen
Victoria's habits, self denying and almost
ascetic, under n good Providence. account
for her magnificent longevity. 1t may be
u homely lesson for a sexagesimal ami
rsary in British palaces, but 1t Is worth
tho millions Of dollars the celebration
cost and the laborious conyocation OF
representatives from all the zones Of
planet If the nations will learn th<
..aitary lesson Of good hours, plain food
outdoor exercise, reasonable abstinence
and common sense habits. That which
Paul said to the jailer Is just as appropri
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