New-York tribune., 1921-11-17
Every One Should
Live to 100, Says
DR.. Smith, Now SO
Busy People in Big Cities
Stand Best Chance, Asserts
Public Health Association
Founder; Given Ovation

Everybody should live to be 100
years old.
Science decrecs century as the nor
NAL span Of human life, according to
DR.. Stephen Smith, who stood before
five hundred medical men last night at
the Hotel Aator and offered himself as
proof of his theory. DR.. Smith is in
his ninety-ninth year.
His speech last night before the con-
vcntion OF the American Public Health
Association is believed to be the first
timo in history that a man of his age
has delivered a public address.
He was roundly cheered as he en-
tered, on the arm of DR.. Mazyck p.
Ravenel, president Of the association,
and the entire company rose to its
fcet, waving napkins and applauding,
when he rose to speak.
His doctrine OF the 100-ycar life was
unfolded in the following words:
We have too long been content with
the false code of the Mosaic law that
limits life to "Threc score years and
ten" with possibility of reaching
four-score years. The falsity of this
law was verified by Moses himself, who
lived forty years over his own allotted
timo and died apparently in good
health, for it Is written, Ellis eye was
undimmcd and his natural force un-
abated."
We are living under entirely differ
ent conditions, with basic principle
of life fixed by the unalterable pre-
cision Of science. Biology teaches that
that normal and potential life of man
is 100 years; that every child born is
adapted, in physical construction and
function. to live century. We must,
therefore, infer that in the natural
order Of life, all deaths occurring at an
earlier age are due to conditions exist
construction and functions of the
human organisms. In these scientific
facts we find tho present duties and
opportunities Of this association.
submit that on this jubilee day we
should inaugurste the new era in life
saving by moving our standard for the
length of life forward thirty years, and
summon the sanitary officials and the
people to rally around that standard
now permanently fixed by the immu-
table deductions of science.
Citizens of New York have a better
chance than most of reaching the al
!otted age of one hundred, for, accord
ing to DIR. Smith, it is those who live
in the busy life who defy death long
est. He referred to the public state
ment Of Clergyman that "the nerve
racking life of New York is not con-
ducive to health and longevity"
"The very opposite Of this statement
is true" he said. "It is among the
people most engaged in the nerve
racking' activities of business that we
find vigorous health. Few, if any, per-
sons die of too much activity, while
thousands lose health and life by the
slowly disintegrating process Of idle
ness"
DR.. Smith was presented with a gold
medal by the American Public Health
Association. of which he was founder
and first president, and which is celc-
brating this week its fiftieth anniver-
sary. Or. Royal S. Copeland, DR.. Her
mann M. Biggs, DR.. Cornelius Wolf
kln 4, and Or. J. II. Kellogg, of Battle
Creek, Mich, were the other speakers.
AZ tho business meeting of the asso-
citation Allan J. Mclaughlin, assistant
surgeon general Of the United States
PUBLIC Health Service, was elected
president