The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-02
VOCATION AND LONGEVITY.
Farmers Live the Longest Lives, the
 Indolent Rich the Shortest.

PCnlcaso Tribune.
 | That mans oecupa ton has much to do with his span os life is the conclusion reached after long st ady by Dr. J. T. ArJidge. the famous British specialisf. J ne eampered rich. who have little or nothing te. engage their time, are the s=.,ot.,st = Hsea .i al caAsres he says, The farmer lives the. longest The British specialist does not deal in thecries except as they apply to conditions that arc. sup poifed- hy figures. He has spent years In collecting mortality statistics. and, does not believe his facts are subject to. dis- pute.] When he theorizes 1t is to arrive al conclusion why the unemployed Nch are short. of life and the hard-worked Farmer continues on with his drudgery to ripe old age.
 The ipdolent rich. reasons Dr. Arlidge. really worry their life away. The hard est work of all is to do nothing for 1t en- tails constant round of that nerve rackilIg labor killing time" Soon ffe man of means who has nothing to do will exhaust all the amusements that cast a light into the lives of other men. and then comes 3 time when the world has nothing to offer. What wonder. then. req sons 'Dr. -Arlidge. that the life that has been useless and is weary Of itself goes
 not cfassed with those who head the Englishman's s mortality list. The philan- nnropists Ind many things to brighten their lives Life Is worth the living be-
 
 traveller. too. finds plenty of diversion But the giftled youth. he who is a spend thrift with fffe's joys, sooh finds he has only his money to distinguish himself living f1as left its blight, and the life has been wasted goes out before its time.
 In striking contrast comes the farmer wne tous from sun to sun and whose plessIres are all of the homelier sort The farmer's body may grow tired, but eight hours Of sleep will repair the dam- age of the day. Work in the open field. where the. air is pure and nature is at her best" eqrrips the tilier of the soil with an appetite which knows no rampered tastesa The farmer eats heartily oi whoiesome food. His digestive apparatus extracts the best that Is in the food and makes red blood. iThe exercise of his daily routine stimulates the weli-fed body and there Is little dissipation to tear down the perfect human system that un- perverted conditions have, built. The farmer has his joys-the evening with the wife and children, the country dance. the spelling bee. the occasional trip to town weekly paperLand all of these help to brighten a life that might seem dreary But. above all, the farmer is man with purpose He has something to fiye for, and while striving he violates fewsof na- lures rules.
 Next in longevity and ratio of health come the clerical. legal and medical pro- fessions, That the brain Is eapabie of great, amount of heaithful labor is> em- phasized by pr. Arlidge. who recites as examfles the accomplishments of Glad stone. Bismarck and Victor Hugo, In spite Of his nhultitudinous cares, respon- abilities and .worriss. Gladstone found time to master Greek after he was 50 years old-a period in life when most men consider that their days of study and re- search are done.
 Among the professions clergymen have the loneast span of life, By the nature of their calling they must abstain from of the worldly sort. and their hours need not be otherwise than regu- lar except in rare occasions. Like the Farmer, the clergyman leads typical home life and follows natures dictates { saat mental activity. with victories ts enthuse and defeats to depress helps to Impair the vitality of the man. A law vers life abounds in excitement, and has little or the peaceful quiet that adds to mans days on earth.
 The physician is not so rugged a crea- ture as thf lawyer. While devoting his life to the care of others he is apt to forget himself. and the responsibilities connected with each doctors practice are more than one -n1an should bear The doctor. too. is exposed to all the dis eases that menace his patients and mos. of his waking time is spent in the sick room. where the air and temperature are not regulated to nourish the healthy maii Among the doctors is chronicled tine largest number of suicides except among the artists. Insanity. too, has been fac tor in depnving the medical profession of some of it's greatest minds.
 Man thrfves on politics. according to Dr ArlidRe's figures. Plenty of variety. with intervals of rest and travel, serve to keep the politician from wearing himself away Among l.tefary men. scientists, professors and teachers the mortality is not high in with the ihdustriaI classes. rhss. reasons the British student, activ- ty of the mind. if bent in the right di- rection. has more to do with the health if iDe body than ;ne activity that builds ID the muscles. A judieious combination of both forms of exercise brings about .h" ideal condition, says Dr. Arlidge.
 In the factories the ratio of mortality 8 exceedingly high. The humdrum work | s hlaned for thts:: Like the rich man who does nothing. the toler in the fac | ory finds his life sapped away by a mo- 1 lotony that is killing. It is the same | hing day in and day out. and soon ex- stenee loses it's charm ana the man be- | ,onIes q machine. which falls 10 pieces of | worn from constans work and a dearth )f Ia Flcati Dn. Tile factori,s are vtnti d ed poorly. anu this tends to weaken he buman machine.
 Among the clerks of very description in he large cities the ratio of health is low tant standing or stooptng reduce the ung capacity. and breathing the indoor atmosphere fails to inject the vigor that he system demands. Nervous troubles ers of clerks. ConsImptiou is second and popleXy is third. The continuous strain f being courteous at all times, often to
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