WHY GROW OLD? 227 



fill manuring and proper attention in its early existence, as to 

 whether it becomes a strong plant or dies in its infancy. If it is 

 planted in congenial soil, and is properly watered and cared for, 

 it will live and grow luxuriantly ; but if in improper soil, and left 

 to take care of itself, it will possibly soon die. It is the same 

 with a human being, and however weakly it may be as an infant, 

 if it is properly nursed and taken care of, the foundation is often 

 laid of a mature and sound constitution. 



The law of the survival of the fittest may, in some instances, 

 be a cruel one ; but it is a beneficent one, for it does not seem 

 right that those entering the world should be handicapped with 

 the weaknesses of their ancestors, and those who have the well- 

 being of the race at heart hold the opinion that constitutions that 

 inherit any strongly marked hereditary weakness should not be 

 allowed to contract obligations that may and will entail suffering 

 upon a future generation. 



We do not attempt to rear plants and flowers from imperfect 

 specimens, nor does the agriculturist breed his stock from any 

 but the best and healthiest in any class that he may wish to 

 propagate, and surely the same amount of care and selection 

 should be used with regard to our own species. In the higher 

 ranks of life we see better specimens of the English race than in 

 the lower ones, for more care is exercised in this respect. Some- 

 thing more, of course, must be allowed for this greater care and 

 attention bestowed up to adolescence. Whereas it is estimated 

 that out of every million people born, only ninety thousand reach 

 the age of eighty, eleven thousand that of ninety, and two thou- 

 sand the age of ninety-five — really, treble that number should 

 reach these respective ages ; in fact, if all the surroundings of life 

 in every way were as they should be, there is no reason why six 

 times the number should not reach these ages. 



Much of the comfort of middle and old age depends upon early 

 training and early feeding, and I refer here more particularly to 

 school life. Neither mind nor body should be forced. While the 

 intellectual faculties are being trained, the bodily requirements 

 should be attended to. The constitution is being built up during 

 the years that a boy is being educated for his pursuits in after 

 life. I can remember my own life at a well-known school in a 

 fashionable town five-and-thirty years ago, and I often wonder I 

 survived it when I recall many circumstances. No proper care 

 was taken of us; hunger, thirst, badly cooked meat and vege- 

 tables, sanitary defects, were the rule. Many a time, hungry as a 

 schoolboy should be, have I had put before me for dinner meat 

 that was scarcely warmed outside, and this or nothing had to be 

 my meal. Had it not been for an old man who used to come to 

 the playground selling buns and cakes, I do not know how at 



