A SUPEEINTENDENT OF THE OLDEK DAYS. 
for our visitors, aud we have known many, who did 
not smoke tlaemselves, whom on visiting they always pro- 
duced cigars and tobacco, just on the same principle, 
and in regard to the hospitable customs of the country, 
as those who did not drink produced their wine and 
beer, for the benefit of such of their visitors who 
did. YVe have not heard of any statistics having been 
kept in tropical countries as to the comparative rates 
of death of those who drink and those who do not. 
But in several cases they have been kept in the old 
country, and all the results shown are very much in 
favour of the total abstainer, so much so that many 
or most of the Life Insurance Companies will insure 
the life of a total abstainer at a much lower rate of 
premium than they will those of the moderate, even 
temperate, drinkers ! Take the case of our soldiery 
anywhere in the East. The strong, long-lived, healthy 
men are, as a rule, those who abstain, and in all in- 
stances of fatigue and hardship, by land or sea, it 
has been proved, strong drink as a rule is injurious 
and tea or coffee infinitely preferable. We knew a 
gentleman some time ago, who had lived in one of the 
Indian Presidencies for forty years, and all this time 
liad never visited a temperate climate. He never did 
drink, nor ever had drunk, any intoxicating liquors, 
during this long residence, tea and coffee yvere thei‘r 
substitute. He retired to the old country with a well- 
earned independence, or rather a fortune, sound, hale 
and in good health, and enjoyed himself thoroughly — 
the fruits of his labours ; but as the end must 
come some time, so it came to him, nearly ninety 
years of age. Now, we are not so silly as 1o proclaim 
this was the result of total abstinence, in a tropical 
climate, that it was all owing to this, eo that all 
and sundry bad just to go and do likewise, with a 
like resiilL TJiis gentleman had very probably a 
fine constitution, and be bad don© wbat a great 
many don’t do, be had taken care of it, and he had 
not done, yvhat a great many do — presumed upon it, 
taxed and tried it too much. We merely relate this 
incident in our personal experience, to prove that men 
can live in the tropics, live for forty years, enjoy, 
good health i not only this, but retire in good health 
and enjoy the fruits of their labours. All this has been 
done, and as dt has been still can be, without the 
aid (?) of intoxicating liquors. To prove that the case 
just given was simply one of a firm and decided con.- 
viction, we may add, that the old gentleman referred 
to, after he had settled in the old country, kept a 
fine stock of wines and liquors, which he not only 
constantly used in moderation himself, but freely pressed 
on all his yisitors, so that the incident herewith given 
