Democratic Sentinel, Volume 3, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 March 1879 — Longevity the Result of Care. [ARTICLE]

Longevity the Result of Care.

The fact that the late Richard Henry Dana was regarded as an invalid until he had reached 50, and yet outlived all his contemporaries, is not so uncommon as it appears. The opinion that it is usually the healthful, robust men who attain longevity, while it is prevalent, is not correct. Many of our citizens now over 70, and likely to last much longer, are not and never have been vigorous of body. They have been, on the contrary, delicate from childhood, and keep themselves in active life by prudence and the excellent care they take of themselves. Peter Cooper is a conspicuous example. He was puny at his birth, and has continued more or less feeble ever since. Nevertheless, he has engaged in various enterprises; has been a most generous benefactor to his native city; and has just completed his 89th year. The persons who go to their graves at 40 and 50 have frequently had any amount of physical stamina, and have depended on it so entirely as to neglect all hygienic laws, and disregard anything like discretion. There is e. certain arrogance of health which ruins health by excess of confidence. Men of this sort are persuaded they can do and endure anything and everything, and, acting on their persuasion, they break down suddenly and unexpectedly and slip out of existence. The semi-invalid or valetudinarian, on the other hand, seldoms incurs any risk. He guards himself at every point; he sees where danger is and sedulously avoids it. His condition has rendered him heedful, and heedfulness has grown into unchanged and unchangeable habit. Ease of circumstance also contributes greatly to longevity where a man either has simple tastes or is judicious in his mode of living. Adversely to the accepted notion, poverty is rarely good for anybody ; for it entails not only absence of comfort, but constant friction and endless worry. Other things being equal, the rich long survive the indigent.—Exchange.