Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-07
A SECRET OF LIFE
IBY Garrett 2. SerVissl

Professor Ludwig Sylow. the Nes-
tor cf Norwegian mathematicians," as
Professor q. A. Miller calls him, died
recently in Christiania at the age o.:
eighty-tve. \ very memorable fact
about him is that he had reached -he
age of siXty-tive years when he was
appointed professor of mathematics
in the Christiana University. The
thing that makes this fact piquant is
that siXty-tive years is precisely the
age at which, in. the Judgment of the
governing boards OF most schools and
universities, professors instead OF
being appointed should be shelved or
Dismissed.
Moreover, Sylow was not appointed
to be a mere figurehead, but to per-
form the active duties of his post, and
ing powers, until the last year of MS
life, when" says Professor Miller, "he
frequently remarked that he felt
tired" He was then, remember,
The case of this remarkable mathe-
matician, who has given his name to
a fundamental theorem of the matee
mates of groups, which may still be
taught when the Pyramids are dust,
comes just at time when the worlds
attention is forcibly called, in a field
of more violent activity, to the en-
during vigor of old age. AS every
reader knows, it was under the lead
ership Of gray-haired men, like Joffre
and Foch, of about the same age as
that of Sylow when he was appointed
pI ofessor, that the armies of the AL
lies were led to victory, while their
enemies also found that the "old
heads" were the best they could get.
These things come as a triumphant
vindication of human nature against
the detraction ascribed to DIR. Oslei,
who, it is now said on his behalf, IN
tended to be humorous when he prac-
tically told people lowering around
sixty that the world had no use for
them.
There is something here of supreme
interest for every thoughtful person.
The body is the instrument, as well
as the temporary home, OF the soul.
The soul, whatever it's real nature or
future destiny may be, is limited to
its activities here below by the ca
pacity of the brain cells to receive its
Impressions and give them outward
form or material expression.
The limbs obey the brain as the
brain obeys the soul But the limbs.
and other parts of the body which
are not directly controlled by the
soul. wear out. or deteriorate, faster
than do the brain cells. This is prov
ed by the fact that the intelligence of
aged persons who have lived temper
ate and reasonable lives remains
bright after their bodily powers have
failed. Decay of the body does not
necessarily imply corresponding
The sudden mental illumination, or
clearing up, often noticed at the point
of death, indicates that the soul is
not dimmed as the body decays, and
that it is capable of stimulating the
brain cells to renewed coordination
and activity even when they are about
to fall into dissolution.
That secret consists in giving ac-
tivity to the mind. Moderate bodily
exercise, diminishing in strenuous
ness as age progresses, is desirable,
particularly for the fresh air that
usually goes along with it, and Incl
dentally for the mental stimulus
which it affords. But don't imagine
that a gymnasium will give you the
nasium gives muscle, which is one of
the most perishable constituents of
The prize-fghter and the athlete
have not the secret of prolonged life.
If such prolongation were their object
they would be putting the emphasis in
the wrong place. The Fountain of
Youth is in the brain; the best bodily
exercise to stimulate the brain is
IL your occupation consumes your
bodily energies. and at the same time
your brain cells get no exercise, or
the least possible exercise, your
chances for long life are not very
good 1t will be found in cases of re-
ne rkable longevity that the subjects
were mentally active to a noticeable
and their status of education did not
demand what is called intellectual la
| bor. A man can get a great deal of
thought out of his daily occupation,
whatever that may be and the more
he thinks the steadier the current of
his life will become. provided that he
steers clear of worry.