The Journey Of Life

The whole journey of life is best dlvided into three stages - the perlod of ascent or youtii (1-25), that of level round or maturity (25-50), and that of dsseent or decline (50-75). Oid age may set in anywhere along the 1-ast stage. It must not, however, be supposed that the last stage necesaaxily ends at 75; for, of the late years, especially, in many cases, the period of old age has not begun until years are past, life being prolonged over the century; while on the other hand, all the signs of old age be'fore twenty years have been reached. It is interesting to compare the age of man with that of other parts of the organic kingdom. In the vegetable world it is enormously exceeded. Amongst trees the elm reaches an age of 335 years; the ivy, 450; the chestnut 600; the olive, 700; the cedar, 800; the oak, 1,500; the yew, 2,800; while Humboldt computed the age of the baobab tree to be 5,700! Amongst the fish, Dr. Richardson found no deaths from old age, and did not believe they have any term to their lives, save as they fan a prey to one another.