Secret Of Long Life

Among the various fautastic theorie3 , for prolonging life one of the most popular at the end of the eighteonth century was what was called "retarding vital! consumption. ' ' Maupertuis fancied that a complete suspension of vital activity. a sort of Rip Van Winkle sleep, might be producedsoas to check self consump tion. Bodies in this state could be lald : away and then resuscitated after a lapse ! of two or three centuries Benjamin Frankliu even, while living in France, I geems to have had faith in this. One day he received some bottles of wine from Virginia. Iq oue of them - only oue - were a few dead flies, which the ' great philosopher resolved to utilize in I an experiment. The ruonth was July, and these imported flies, which had been ou a spree in Virginia, had fallen into the native wiue and had been in this state shipped to France, where they were exposed to the heat of the French suu. Three hours passed, and the winged Virginians cauie to life after an apparent death of mauy weeks. At first a sort of couvulsive movement seized Miern. They began then to use their legs, walked around awhile, and seeming to be aware that they were iu France imrnediately concluded to make their toilet by rubbing their eyes with their fore feet, using their hiud legs to smooth out their wings. They then flew away to associate with Paris flies. Frankliu wrote of the incident: "Since by such a complete suspension of all interual as well as esternal cousumption it is possible to produce a pause oí life and at the same time to preserve the vital principie, inight not such a process be employed in regard to man? I can imagine no greater pleasure than to cause myself to be immersed, along with a few good friends, in wine and to bo again called back to life at the end of 50 or more years by the genial solar rays of my native country, only that I ruay see what improvement the state has made and what changas time has brought with it. " It was once thought that people died from lack of what physicians called the vital principie. It is a phrase that s has a fine, vague, rnysterious sound, but it really means little or nothing. Or, in other words, it Í3 now conceded that ' death comes from disintegration, very i gradual often, it is true, in all the ily organs, brought about by the all 1 portant blood being blocknd up by cretions which close the channels ] ing from the heart. Most magnificent ] and most wouderfal muscle as the i human heart is, it may get clogged in such a way by the earthy salts in the blood as to be unable toperform its regular functions. Then the life fluid caunot be kept in proper circulation Allowiug 69 or 70 pulsations of the heart - the usual average - every minute, one person has 100,000 heart beats in the space of one day. This means, of course, that the heart and arteries are contracted with such power as to keep 50 or 60 pounds of blood in healthy movement. ' Really it is a wonder that one does not , wear out long before he usually does. And it forcea a new kind of admiration from the thinking man when he sees for the first time a human being who has lasted 100 or 115 years, and whose heart is still going on after all this euoroniusexpeuditureof forcé. The eyes, ears and stomach all have a rest, but the heart keeps on through wakiug hours as well as through sleep Pauses between the beats are all the vacation it gets, which seems to be really no rest at I all. When one does not dream, even the brain seems to sleep, or at leaat it gives peace and quiet. Much has been written and talked about vegetarianism in relation to health and its effect on long life. It is not claímed, however, by its strict advocates that auy of the great number of people who have lived to be 100 years and over were vegetariana. In fact, most of these centenarians seem to have lived just like commou folk who die at 40 or 50. If they had only taken care of themselves and kept their blood in good condition, there is no telling but 200 years uiay have been scored as easily as 100. Natural advancages being so great, as shown by wliat they did do, a vague sadness overcomas the social philosopher when he thinks of what they might have accomplished under more favorable conditions for the succeas of the experiment. As to the admitted advantages of a partial vegetarían system of living, Sil. Francisque Sarcey, the famous Frenen critic, has been trying it, and in a oommunication to oue of the Parisian journals gives his experience. Since April, 1893, he has touched no nieat. In August of the same year he reports that he is ouly '"a moderate vegetariau" - that is, he ouly eschews meat and admits eggs, cheese, butter, milk and flsh to his régimen. Contrary to the expectations of both himself and friends, he flnds that he is in much more vigorous health and in better working condition under the influence of his new menu than before. At first he uaturally felt hungry an hour or two after eating, but after a fortnight the flesh cravingpassed away, and now he not only eats at the same bours as before, but consumes much less tood. The advantages of the system are iescribed by him as most remarkable. His mind is clearer, and he feels more disposed for work. He is no longer sleepy after meáis, his brain is fresher, his limbs more elastic, and, more astonishiug still, he can stand more fatigue. Fornaerly he feit the need of stimulants, and now he has done away witb Buch things. He does not smoke, and he is endeavoriug to diminish his coffee Bupply. Altogether he ia enthusiastic. At first it is rather like self denial, but