New-York tribune., 1907-06-22
TO RETAIN ONES YOUTH
Stretching and Breathing T7oo Po-
tent Factors, Says Mrs. Bishop.

How to add life TO ones years and years to ones
life IS the message of Seventy Years Young" by
Emily N. Bishop publisher. B. ". Huebsch, New
York;. The author maintains that getting old Is
partly a matter of habit. supported by what is
supposed 10 be Biblical authority. The days Of
our years are threescore and ten" wrote a
Hebrew poet and people do not stop to consider
that the words are part of a prayer attributed TO
Moses whose age, according 10 the scriptura4
record. was 120 years: and his eye was not dim.
nor his natural force abated-" why asks me
author Of Seventy Years Young has mankind
rot chosen the leaders life. instead of the lives
Of those who were led. as q standard for the span
Of their preOrdained life"
Another thing which tends to the hablt or old
age according 10 this author, is the insistenee
upon mere years.
why are the years of ones life given such i'm
portauce2" asks Mrs. Bishop. III you are my
friend does It matter TO me IN what year you We're
born? Do I love you because OF your age? II
you a stranger and have a message for my
spirit is your year record of any more interest to
than is your height or weight record? Does II
make any difference whether Emerson was twenty
three or sixty-three when he wrote The Over
soul? Were Elizabeth Barrett and Robert Brown
ing less ideal types of lovers because she was
thlrty-nine ard he was thirty-three when they
first met? Does the mere incident OF age by itself
ever increase or decrease the area OF sympathy
between two persons -
II is quite possible, Mrs Bishop thinks. 70 keep
an Indifferent tally the years and, like the
charming French woman. forget 10 remember
ones birthdays" To that end birthday celebra-
uOnS should be entirely omitted 'Oan any awe
adult be made happier by being reminded every
twelve months Of MS her increasing age?"
These are means of keeping the mind young. To
keep the body young systematic daily exercise is
advised in addition careful attention to every
thing that conduces health. The stiffening OF
the tissues, which is the sign and accompaniment
age, says the author, is Warded of by exercise
Sir Henry Thompson. The Oldest member of the
Royal College of Surgeons. IN England, still
in The professional harness at eightyfour. and de-
clared that his joints quite free from any
stiffness, being supple and mobile as they were
in youth. Two orders of gymnastics are mentioned
potent agencies in the retention OF youth These
are stretching and breathing.
Stretch when you are tired says the chapter
on Keeping the Body Young" Stretch when you
are sleepy stretch yourself awake, stretch when
your body has been in fixed position for some
time stretch corpUlency and settled maturity out
Of the body, and stretch mobility and grace and
beauty of figure into existence Stretch the arms,
stretch the hands, stretch the legs stretch the
the throat and stretch the diaphragm. Stretch
standing stretch sitting and stretch lying. Work
and stretch, laze and stretch. Stretch and yaWn.
stretch and relax. Stretch, stretch, stretch"
As for breathing. suffice it to say that generous
breathing IS the most urgent requirement for fun,
abundant life. There are many persons even OF
the busting, hustling sort who are too careless or
Indifferent or ignorant TO breathe sufficiently 10
fortify themselves against Old age atrophies
Obviously, the earlier in life begins TO prac-
use the means that make for health and young
ness the better, Mrs Bishop continues but II is
mistaken idea 10 think that one is too old TO learn
gymnastics The writer has personally known
hundreds OF persons over fcrty years Of age-some
even over eighty-vho by the practice OF health
exercises and right Of the body in daily acts
nave produced transformations youthward hardly
cfeuio!s 70 any save eyewiJnesses.''