The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-02
TO LIVE A CENTURY.
Too Much SIep InJuriOus-Stgndy
Mental Work Good.

from the LONDON Lancet.
The question of the possible duration
of human life, when put to great states
men, scientists and others who have al
most reached the century mark of life,
has been answered in various ways.
Won Moltke, at the age of go was
still possessed of fine intellectual power
and remarkable vitality When asked
how he managed to live so long and in
such excellent health, he replied: by
great moderation in all things and by
regular out-of-doors exercise
Crispi, the famous italian statesman,
said: Regularity and abstinence are
the secrets of long life"
Neal Dow. the American apostle of
temperance reform. replied. when asked
the question: Refrain from fretting -
Cornaro replied: Extreme temper
ance in eating and drinking"
DR.. G. N. Pope, the aged Tamil
scholar, said: BE sure to have some
great life work to do which holds you
upon the earth for the accomplishment
of a purpose, and you will live"
These words from the lips of eminent
men who lived to a wonderful old age
are of intense interest but they are
not the cold and judicial advice of the
scientist.
Recently I worked out plan, the
rules of which. if followed carefully.
will result in the increased longevity of
ones life My first word of advice to
those who would live long is to avoid
disease, especially such diseases as one
is disposed to contract through inher-
tied weakness. This is to be done by
knowing ones predisposition to disease
and exercising the necessary care in
occupation general habits and diet
that will indefinitely postpone the at
tack to which one is predisposed from
birth.
/ advise such care in diet and gem
eral habits of life as Will deter as long
as possible the hardening of the coats
of the blood vessels, that generally
comes on before its natural time, and
other deteriorations of bodily vigor
that are the concomtants or equiva-
Tents of the physical conditions of old
age. In old age the tissues dry up
and the joint stiffens. Keep your it's
sues moist and your joints we'll oiled.
The first thing needed to keep the
tissues healthy and strong and the
various organs in good working order
is a certain amount of exercise taken
every day. Regularly taken exercise
strengthens the heart thereby causing
that great organ to pump the fluids
of the body to the remotest corners
and thereby improving nutrition and
causing all the other organs to do their
natural work and to take a delight,
SO to speak, in doing their natural
work
This nutrition abundantly supplies
the body with power and furnishes
material for the combustion which.
when sufficiently strong, gives the
body the ability to resist chills, which
are the natural enemies OF life A pre-
requisite to the successful effect OF
exercise Is oxygen. Hence fresh air
In plenty is the second useful thing
Among other circumstances infiuenc-
ing the duration of life heredity is of
great influence. Those whose ances-
tors have lived to great ages have a
good chance of longevity. while those
whose parents and blood relations
have died early have mostly Inherited
tendency to short lives, yet II is
possible by judicious arrangement of
the manner OF living to Increase the
duration Of their lives. especially by
counteracting the tendencies of which
their short-lived ancestors have died
There should be moderation OF eat
ing and drinking. especially in regard
to meat foods. The rule of modera-
ton applies TO the whole life but the
necessity for II is increased in old
80 "H.H tue organs ana tissues are
able 10 take up only much smaller
OF nourishing material than in
youth. Few people have an idea OF
the small amount OF food required in
old age, and the fear OF many per
sons that by. eating little they NAV
lose strength Us entirely unfounded.
In the matter Of food my recipe for
longevity will strike, am afraid. the
American people In a weak spot The
most important advice Is 10 refrain
from large Quantities Of meat and eggs.
The latter. when eaten IN large au8nti-
ties or continuously every day for the
three meals or even for two meals, are
az destructive 70 length Of life as the
regular and free consumption Of al
cohoi
IN fact 10 matter what kind Of fond
Is taken, the quantity should be small