104 ^^ VIRIBUS VIVIMUS. 



The Swedish life-table, constructed from the longest 

 and most various returns, is considered the best and 

 truest, whilst great value is also attached to the 

 English and Belgian life-tables. The returns of 

 assurance companies furnish some evidence as to the 

 comparative longevity of assuring classes, and from 

 this source we have two statements appended (see 

 p. io6) which relate to America and Germany, and 

 though not expressed in numbers, are sufficiently 

 important. Some few calculations upon returns of 

 various classes in the community have been pub- 

 lished, which are in some cases reliable — e.g. Mr. 

 Nelson's, as to friendly societies ; others are based 

 on so few facts as to be very much smaller in value, 

 though interesting for general comparison (e. g. Dr. 

 Guy's observations). 



1 6. Statements as to the Duration of Human Life. 

 A. Hebrew. 



• The days of our years are threescore years and ten ; and if by reason 

 of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and 

 sorrow : for it is soon cut off and we fly away.' — Psalm xc. lo. 



' Yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. . . . There were 

 giants in the earth in those days.' — Genesis vi. 3, 4. 



(The 120 years is coupled with the account of giants. It was con- 

 sidered exceptional by the writer of Genesis.) 



B. Individual Opinion, 



' When man has attained the age of forty or fifty he must know that 

 he has reached half the term of his life.'— Conmro (Italian). 



