Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-12-10

time for this II did not believe these
Inquiries represent something more than
an Idle curiosity, II did not believe
that deep down, one of the most i'm
portant problems ever before us Is how
to keep we'll and live long, and II | did
not believe. then, that II becomes a sub
ject Of vital interest TO everyone. still
IT is hardly probable that can offer
anything new upon this subject. so much
has there been said and written upon It.
But 1t maybe that the stories in brief
OF each one that brings bodily health to
a good old age would contain altogether
the best possible prescription for that
which Is so much desired. Whoever has
made the fight and won Is, mayhap. bet
ter fitted than medical practitioner Of
hygenic theotist himself still young.
to tell the story OF how It should be
carried on
First Of all want to say that the
natural tendency to live long is very I'm
portant Some families. though stout of
limb and apparently very robust, have
n history Of seldom in any Individual in
stance reaching the old time allotted three
score and ten. Others slighter. of build nd
Trailer in appearance, for no assignable
live lorg, then, be careful to be born OF
family that has formed the custom of
not dying young. In picking your ances-
tors with desirable care, remember not
TO select those, too, that though natural
~ of an enduring race have had their
physical 1ber worn down by dlssipa-
ton tho effects Of which may be trans
United to you. Having attended properly
/ vYit tn, h.,
born on farm or at any rate In n
country village, where you may grow up
IN the open, hardened by constant ex
erciae
Next when arrived at maturity still
keep much outdoors and keep up the ex-
ercise Of youth Eat plain food keep
regular habits, get plenty of sleep avoid
eXcesses and do not worry.
But your family doctor can tell you
these matters and more I must he pure
~ personal, as / intmated at the out
SGT, If am to tell anything new. | was
born December I. 1871 on a mountain
farm In Sterling, county of Lamolle, VT,
In that part Of the town which now
forms part of johnson. My father cut
| his road to whore | was born and later
built himself home near the center Of
acres owned by him. I was the young
, est of a large family of children all of
whom were taught early to work and to
/ save. The Fireplace, the spin
ming wheel, and the talow can
de .ner we're Invsriable. We knew no
railroad train or steamboat was re-
garded at home as the least robust Of
the family and the one least likely to
, live long, Between the ages of Is and
Il. some of my relatives feared ! might
| nave what We now term tuber-
culosis still took the rough life
of the hills with the rest and at il
| like nearly all my brothers. left home to
do for myself The next 1--WE years were
given for the most part TO a peddler's
cart. acting In connection with my older
brothAr with headquarters at Water
town and at Pittsburgh. n. Y. rough
Ing It. I suppose 1t would now be called,
through northern New York Then for
a few years attended country acad-
emes and taught school a little. finally
to bring up as n store keeper in Johnson
village. three miles from where I was
born. At the age Of q left the
store and for nearly so years lived on a
farm In Colchester until old age COM
PEELED me to give up work and to be con-
tent as watcher Of the doings Of others.
While most OF my life farmer. |
never was fitted to do day after day,
heavy manual labor and usually was
able 20 avoid this. Spare of frame and
| considerable of my life rather thin Of
blood have been obliged to take espe-
cial care to keep warm when constantly
out doors during the severe Vermont
winters. The ordinary food OF the ordin-
| airy farmer / have eaten during most of
my life, but l have ever taken particular
care never to allow anything to hurry
my meals but have been an almost ag-
gravatingly slow eater. Perhaps az a
consequence I never had anything the
| matter with my digestive organs and al.
most never found that anything dis
| agreed with me until within the last few
years. For about 50 wears | have been
moderate smoissr, yet am convinced
that it would have been better for mo to
have used tobacco not at all When l
left 1t alone for time ! invariably have
gained in weight Alcoholic stimulants
always let alone until with few years
when used occasionally under medical
advice Regular sleep / seldom failed to
obtain but ] never was an extremely
early riser, are many farmers.
For over 20 years have not been I'll
so as to be unable to be up and dressed
each day. The most severe sickness |
ever had was the measles which came to
me when about q years old. This d!sor-
der laid me up about week. I
| never have been really Ill since. Ny
sight and hearing have failed consider
ably during the past two or three years
and my physical vigov is Of course very
much less than several years ago. But
so far as ] am able to determine, my
mind works well as ever. though of
course easily wearied. ! have no disease
| or symptom OF disease SO far MS know,
and every organ in my body Is apparent
| ~ healthy.
II anything I have said shall be Of
| value to another In pointing out the way
to health and long life. l shall be
pleased. To live long, very long. is
greatly to be desired If one can at the
same time be we'll The Young person
fails to take note usually of the value
OF the years beyond 70. These are really
valuable years, golden years. IL accom-
panied by a sound mind in a sound body.
Good health and long life are usually,
believe, the result more than of any
! thins else, OF constant attention to the
ordinary principles Of right living,
Nervous in temperament myself, l have
had my share of worrments but they
somehow have not seemed to affect my
health OF my eight children four now are
+.