HOW TO PROLOXa LIFE. 145 



or sat in liis cnair he never permitted himself 

 to sit awry or in a hent posture, but was always 

 perfectly straight. The luxurious and effemi- 

 nate habits of citizens he held in contempt." 



After having read all this from my little book 

 I said to myself: ^^you will be a foolish man 

 indeed not to profit by the example and experi- 

 ence of these old people." I then wrote out all 

 that I had been able to discover about these 

 happy old people upon a card, which I suspended 

 over my writing desk, so that I might always 

 have it before my eyes to remind me what to do, 

 and from what I should refrain. Every morn- 

 ing and evening I read over the contents of my 

 card and obliged myself to conform to its rules. 



And now my dear young readers, I can assure 

 you on the word of an honest man, that I am 

 much happier and in better health than I used 

 to be. Formerly I had the headache every day 

 a^d now I suffer scarcely once in three or four 

 months. Before I began these rules I hardly 

 dare to venture out in the rain or snow without 

 catching cold. In former times a walk of half 

 an hour's length fatigued and exhausted me,now 

 I walk miles without weariness. Imagine then 

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