The Washington times., 1913-05-05
STATESMEN PROVE
DR.. W|LEYS THEORY
Many National Leaders Are in
Prime After Passing Age of
Sixty Years.

Washington has something like lS Nv
Ing, breathing. active examples OF 'he
sixty-year-old type of men whom Dr'
Harvey w. Wiley former chiei cherAlst
of the Government. characteriZes as
being in the prime of life at the three-
score-year mark. DR.. Wiley, in an ad-
dress before the Secular League yester-
day declared that man reaches the
highest state of efficiency at he sixty
year stage. Right here in Washington
are scores OF examples of thls-men
who are doing their best work, not only
for their government and their CITY.
but for themselves.
DR.. Wiley says il is possible TO grow
old without becoming senile. The idea
that young persons are rendering the
greatest service to humanity, he con-
tinued. is erroneous. Washington has n
number of Illustrations whi u bear out
this statement.
Active In All Walks.
II has a fire chief who is as active
as any of his men, and who races 10
every fire when a second alarm Is
turned in, whether it be winter or sum-
mer. day or night. 1t has bankers,
merchants, manufacturers, lawyers.
doctors, and the like, who are more than
sixty years old, yet hold their own with
the younger generation.
Great services are rendered by
elderly men and women. We do not
reach the maximum of efficiency until
the age of sixty, when. according to
some authorities and the average length
of life in this country. We should have
been dead sixteen years.
Great old age cannot be avoided. but
senility can be. and my plea Is Tor a
useful old age and the right to attain
old age, which right is threatened In
various ways and is a right which
should be guaranteed to every American
citizen"
Good Nutrition Necessary.
In this connection the speaker ad-
vanced what he termed his funda-
mental proposition-that of good nutri-
ton. He declared that upon good
nutrition depends the youth of ma
tons inhabitants. The speaker also
emphasized the great Importance OF
good heredity and environment.
The speaker declared that the child is
in every respect the creature Of fate.
and that its first right is to be well
born. and, next, II should have proper
nourishment and healthful environment.
morally and physically. 1t was de-
clared that with every marriage certifi-
cate there should go a certificate Of
physical. mental, and moral fitness for
marriage.
"Sins of the Fathers"
The speaker declared that a great
truth is expressed In the Biblical pas
sage that the sins of the fathers are
visited up the children unto the third
and fourth generations but that he
could write a statement OF greater
truth to the effect that the sins of the
fathers are visited upon the children
forever. and that the virtues also are
transmitted.
IF we want to live long We must
have a good heredity and a good en-
vircnment," said DR.. Wiley.
Above all else, ! would like to live
long enough to see all the children of
this country come into the world with
a good heredity. The problem of youth
and age goes far back into that of
heredity. and in the interest Of society
the state should look out for this
principle of heredity."
Dr.. Osler May Reply.
Friends of DIR. Osler. who intimated
that all men should be chloroformed
after becoming sixty years old, are eX-
Meeting a hot ''come-back' from the
noted scientist in reply to DR.. Wiley g
statements.