Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1904-01-20

Ags Lanit e AnsTisans uEteAdias
in spite ~ Presumably Dam-
agina Gzeesasa.

II is cheering - discover that the
age limit OF the population Of the
United States Il rapidly extending.
According to the results reached By
computing the median instead Of the
average age, the increase Of the age
Of the white population has amount
ed to "a years in the last 30 years.
This means, says the Detroit Free
Press, that hve-sixths Of q year Il
gained each decade. In this same pc
Rod Of nine decades the colored pop
ulation has been able 70 prolOng its
age with only half the success
achieved by the white population. The
median age In 1902 was 23.4, In 1900
IL was 22.s, and In 1890, 21.9 years.
In accounting for this national adj
vance in Longevity the census report
says;
many complex influences have Co
operated in producing az a resultant
this steady change in the age compo-
Eition Of the population. There may
be mentioned; The rapid progress Of
medical and sanitary science, which
has tended to increase the average
length Of life; the decrease in the
relative number Of children born.
which has made the earlier age Pc
Rod less preponderant numerically IN
the total population, and the influx.
especially since 1910, Of great NUM-
bsrs Of adult immigrants, increasing
the number IN the older age periods.
The difference between the white and
eOlored population u doubtless due
20 the fact that the influences have
wrought nor powerfully upon the
white race than upon the colored
Eaice."
II IL said that figures cannot lie.
and for that reason Americans have
great cause TO rejoice over the posi-.
bility Of in time rivaling Methuselah.
So much IL said and written nows-
days concerning hygiene, pure food,
physical culture, water contamina-
tion and kindred subjects, that there
Is now and then = feeling that this
excessive care In guarding the
health y not productive Of material
results.
Science has done such wonders IN
The nine decades from which the REQ
OrdS Of the age ems computations
are made that the conscientious mar
Is often inclined to think he would
have no time for work OF pleasure Il
he lived up to all its requirements
But Notwithstanding this good record
made recently by the people Of the
United States, It is plain there Ia room
for much improvement. The Amer
lcan constitution must be strong, In
deed, to thrive under existing hab'
its Of life. All the knowledge that has
been acquired and all the precautions
that have been taken can accomplish
comparatively little so long as bust
less men overwork and society won,
en- everyday.
Americans have not learned how
60 rest although the wealthy classes
are now making an attempt to enjoy
outdoor life. But even though thI
eight-hour law governed all classes
even though men and women il
every walk Of life realized the ad
vantageS Of plenty Of exercise, tn,
population would not be able to at
tain the extreme limit Of longevit,
unless the people learned something
about how and what to eat. Their
e no nation in the world so extrav
agant In its food as ours. There &
no people that INDUCES in such dya
peptiO dishes. It has been charges
that there Is no one who can eat ),
rapidly % an American. II the ca
e%ouraging results announced by thI
census bureau have been attaine,
under present conditions Of living, /
Is astonishing to think what nigh
happen II we lived up to our pos
abilities.