The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1909-10-21
RETIRING ON OLD AGE.

RETIRING ON OLD AGE.
According to statistical investiga-
ton activity in old age adds material
Ily to the prolongation of life. This
has developed in the life Of the re-
tired army officer and has been found
to extend even to the farmer who
gives up active work on the farm and
moves to the city. 1t is conceded
that q man who has had the benefit of
outdoor life through the greater por-
ton Of his existence can live beyond
the three-score and ten period, If
he stays in touch with that kind Of
life, and that it means a shorter life
for him when he gives up and goes
into retirement. The Washington
Post has an interesting comment on
the old age retirement idea. based
upon the investigation that has
been made along this line. and which
is as follows:
THE great number OF. deaths
among retired army and navy officers
recently Is stirring official circles to
an inquiry as to the aus The be-
lief is growing that the enforced idle
ness Of the old veterans fastened
their end. Cases are cited where
these men have retired at the age of
60 OF GA hale and hearty and appar-
emily good for twenty years more of
life. Yet in four or six years they
have dropped of. It appears that the
average life Of these officers after re-
Etirement is six years.
Yet army and navy officers are
we'll prepared to pass with ease the
allotted three years and ten.
Theirs has been the freedom of the
plains and the open sea, with plenty
Of exercise and that absence of lux
ury that undermines the physique.
They are grizzled and hearty when
they retire and could furnish a merry
tussle for many a younger man fol-
lowing the career Of I civilian.
But the retired officer has alb
solntely nothing to do. .After4an act
I've life Of forty years in service, he
Is shelved at an age when he is be-
yond the taking up of the duties
which the civilian ca.lilgs offer. He
is settled at home on his retired pay,
and there finds nothing to do other
than lwidcle his thumbs. Tais oc-
icupation is a poor climax for an act
tive life. It has many of the mental
and physical disadvantages t3at are
faced by prisoners who are confined
In idleness. The mind at best is like
ly to turn inward and dwell upon all
ments, real and imagined. until the
health suffers as a consequence. The
absence of the active duties Of mind
and body that have filed all the days
of a lifetime weighs heavily upon the
old warrior.
"A physician in a western town re-
Gently made the statement that the
retired farmer died within three years
on an average. These brawny sons
OF toll are making their fortunes out
west by the score and retiring at the
age Of so or Whereabouts. The lives
they have led in the open fields have
given them constitutions that are cap
able of withstanding almost any hard
ship. But with their money invested
in mortgages and a SUFFICIENT income
to support their families in ease and
luxury for the remainder of their
lives, these men pine away and die.
They have been accustomed to other
things and their physique demand
them. Their minds are not healthy
in idleness. As the unused pillow rusts
out when exposed to the weather, so
does the man OF activities lose his vi
tally when left to stagnate in idle
ness,
There seems to be a pretty we'll
effort on the part OF the
Peary supporters to make it plain
that DR.. Cook did not reach the north
pole. Another person comes for
ward with an afidavit to the effect
that Cook failed to reach the pole,
that he raj with him as far as Cook
went and they did not ind the pole.
Peary's evidence set forth as secur-
cd from the Eskimo boys does not
n