A TESTIMONY IN FAVOR OF REFORM.
By J. O. Corliss
A few days ago, while standing before the court-house in Luray, Virginia, I saw a man coming briskly up the walk with the firm, elastic step and erect carriage of one in middle age. As he came near me, I noticed, protruding from his pocket, some United States pension papers, and ventured to ask if he was a pensioner. He replied that he was, because of service in the war of 1812. I was surprised to learn that he was ninety-two years of age, and questioned him concerning his habits of life, etc., upon which he gave the following facts relative to himself:— His name is Jonas Cave. He is in all probability the oldest man in Page Co. All who were his associates in boyhood and youth have passed away; yet he is as hale and hearty as ever, and able to walk twenty-five miles a day. His hearing is perfectly good, he never used glasses, and I see no reason why he may not expect to live until he is one hundred years old. His diet has always been plain, coarse food; he never fell into the habit of drinking liquor, and never used an ounce of tobacco in his life! Thinking this a remarkable case, I was determined to follow the matter further, so I asked him about his family. He said he could distinctly remember his grandfather, whose habits of life were very plain, and who lived to the age of ninety-six. He also had an uncle who lived to be one hundred and eleven; but his father, who used tobacco freely, lived to be only seventy-seven. We sometimes meet those who say, “I don't think tobacco or gross living hurts me any; why, there was my father who used tobacco all his days, and he lived to be seventy years old.” That may be, and if he had not used tobacco perhaps he might have lived to be ninety. The above case is only one of many that might be cited to show how much longer those live who are free from such bad habits, and how free they may be in old age from disease and vexation. They may live to enjoy the society of children and grandchildren, who rise up and call them blessed for imparting to them strong constitutions and healthy bodies—good foundations for strong minds and noble talents which may be devoted to the service of God.