Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1902 — LONG LIFE AND A MERRY ONE. [ARTICLE]

LONG LIFE AND A MERRY ONE.

Strenuous Americans Outlive the Indolent Africans. It seems that we are all wrong about the hurtful and life-shortening effect of American “hustle.” Our national motto may be said to have been “A short life, but a strenuous one.” We were willing, as a. people, to have the span shortened a little if only we could have something worth while, something active and effective, going all the time. But it seems, according to the latest bulletin of the census bureau, that the fast life is also the long one, says Harper's Weekly. Our “median age”—that is, the age which Is such that half the population is under It and half over it—ls more than seven years greater than It was a century ago, and Increases from decade to decade. We are surpassing easygoing foreign countries In this respect; we are surpassing even the loose jointed, Idolent, beautifully relaxed, never-worrying African in our midst; for whereas the median age of our American whites is 23.4 years, that of the devil may-care colored person Is but 18.3. Lately much confusion has arisen in the minds of many Americans over the statement made by certain eminent neurologists that it is next to Impossible for a man to “overwork,” provided his bodily functions are kept in good order by temperate and wholesome living. Other physicians, to be sure, tell us that hurry and worry spell death. We had accepted the latter Judgment, with the qualifying reflection that no mutter what science tells us, It always seems to have "another think coming.” This census bulletin which links the long life with the fast ene appears to be the other “think.”