102 TOBACCO : ITS HISTORY. 



Concluding this necessarily egotistic summary, 

 I affirm that all the secretions of my organism 

 are perfectly normal, all its functions undisturbed 

 and vigorous, and seem to promise longevity. 

 Life is, however, desirable no longer than it can 

 be enjoyed, observes Sir Richard Phillips ; and 

 the wearing out of the system in advanced life 

 causes, in general, more pains than pleasures; 

 while the hopes and passions which give zest in 

 youth vanish with the powers of animality in the 

 petrifactions of age. In the slow but certain 

 diminution of the formative force within us, to 

 feel the bones grow brittle, the muscles rigid, 

 and the heart stiffened by accumulating lime — as 

 it were, built up internally : to stand in the midst 

 of animal perfections a mere diminished entity, 

 cursed with cravings and denied a capacity to 

 fill — but enough : if w^e can live without disease 

 to the utmost verge of our prime, perhaps that 

 will be sufficient ; at all events, it will amply 

 meet my views and wishes as a denizen of earth. 



