The sun., 1916-12-15
AMERICANS HURRY
TO DEATH AT 4S
We Are Nation of Murderers
and Suicides, Says Il. Z.
RittenhOusc.
PEOPLE LIVE TOO WELL
Gloom Inspiring Sketch Given
to Life Insurance
Presidents.
PEOPLE LIVE TOO WELL

This nation Is physically unprepared.
the Association Of Life Insurance Presi-
dents. which began Its tenth annual
meeting In the Hotel Astor. was told
yesterday by e. E. Rittenhouse. commis-
sioner Of public service and conservation
Of the Equitable Life Assurance Society.
II was n gloom inspiring sketch OF the
average American that Mr.. Rittenhouse
held up before the insurance authorities.
Schopenhauer. the philosopher; Malthus,
the economist. Strndberg. the play
wright. and Jeremiah. the prophet, would
have been cheerful alongside Mr.. Ritten-
house.
"Our physical American" said Mr.. Rit-
tenhouse, looks smooth, pink and
healthy. He Is a good fver--I said 10.
not has He hurries. He has no time
to vast" The average age Of the Amer-
can people at death Is about ~. He Is
trying. with the aid OF new knowledge
and inventions. to crowd the experiences
Of wo lifo;imes into one. He In having
sorlc success. but the strain Ii telling
upon him.
Ills hair has aged and ne is getting
bald. Nature asks why hirsute protec-
tlon IL needed indoors. His eyes have
been strained by close focus and inside
work. hence the eyeglasses. His teeth
put up a good front. but they need at
tention. Lack Of professional care and
Of exercise due to the increase In soft.
unresisting foods. has impaired the health
Of both teeth and gums.
Digestive Organs Rebel.
''His digestive organs have been given
- many new and arduous duties to
which they were not trained that they
are showing signs Of rebellion. He is
seriously overstraining his heart. arte-
ries. kidneys. nerves and digestion. as
the rapidly increasing death rate shows
"He Ia more than well rounded at the
belt and slightly so at the shoulders. His
400 muscles are virtually all soft and
weak from lack OF use. He In designed
as an erect. outdoor animal with feet and
legs for service. but he not only lies
down by night, but he sits down by day.
He never walks when he can ride.
'rhe arches Of his feet are gradually
falling. because his muscles provided to
hold them up have been weakened by
long disuse.
.'Hc scurries around at his work. gets
tired and nerve worn. and thinks this Is
physical exercise. whereas his muscles
and Joints have been virtually idle"
Mr.. Rittenhouse also described the
Americans deadly eating habits"
There Is no burden too great for him
10 nut upon his digestive system. He
would not think OF mixing bricks or
scrap iron or gravel with the fuel FOR
the furnace which heats his house. but
he does not hesitate to follow this plan
in furnishing the fuel for his body. He
feeds his stomach with all sorts OF tasty
funk. much Of which cannot be fully d.
eested, and which results in the trouble
that comes from ADMINISTRATION"
Too Much Of Everything.
The American treats his heart and
nerves to $1,000, 900 900 worth Of nico-
tine every year. has doubled his ciga-
!. rette allowance. and in the last two gen
eration. has taken twice as much conee
Most Of the $4,000 900 pounds OF drugs
he consumes annually are without doc
tors prescriptions.
"Although the American doesn't look
murderous," said Mr.. Rittenhouse. The
commits many more murders than any
other human being" and also loves 10
commit suicide
William A. Day, president OF ths
Equitable Life Assurance Society and
chairman OF the meeting yesterday
condemned the great modern American
sin Of extravaganza
I'VE rejoice that our people may now
have MANY OF tne good tHiiNs VI ''S
that were denied them In years gone by
hut this nation cannot long wallow ir
iuxuries and prodisality and endure II
II not a patriotic duty to Join. 70 far al
we consistently may. In an enort tt
assist in decking this destructive
tendency
Other speakers were Senator Hok'
Smith Of Georgia, who contributed
"reminiscences Of Grover Cleveland: Al
fred Hurrell associate general solicitor
of the Prudential Insurance Company o
America; Herbert c. Cox, head OF TN
Canada Life Assurance Company o.
Toronto; Jesse s. Phillips. state super
intendent of Insurance. who spok'
against a too paternal system OF GOV
ernment regulation. and Frank II
Bethel. vice president of the New for'
Telephone Company.
The meeting will be resumed to-day
Speakers will include John y. WHY'S
president of the Willys-Overland Com
pany; Arthur Hunter. president or I'M
Actuarial Society OF America, anf
George T.. Edwards. head OF the Dolial
Savings Bank.