nts out of wheat;
we should not bleach rice and take out its nutritious element.
Certainly, our lives are very unscientific. Most men live merely by
accident. The shortness of life is not surprising to one who understands
how irrationally most of us live.

Others say, breathe deeply, naturally and constantly.

Still others have urged active life out of doors or an active
participation in business. It is a well-known fact that many men have
not lived long after retiring from their occupations.

Andrew Carnegie said recently that he attributed his long life, health
and strength to his activity. The story is told that he walked the floor
of his room with deep anxiety and consternation the night after his
offer was accepted to sell the Carnegie Steel Works. He had not thought
it possible that his price would be accepted, and he kept speaking to
his old friend about the amount of money paid and the greatness of the
responsibility. Fortunately he did not retire, as most men do, but took
an interest in every phase of modern life. He has used his money, as a
sacred trust, according to his own best judgment, building libraries and
giving organs, pensioning teachers who have given their lives for truth
rather than for making money, and has furthered many other causes.

One of the most common opinions is that long life depends upon "our
constitution,"--upon what we receive from our ancestors. That is, long
life is a gift, not an attainment. And we are in the habit of blaming
our ancestors, near and remote, for our lack of strength and vitality.

Dr. Oliver Wendell Holmes once made the remark that if one wished to
live a long life he should be afflicted with some incurable disease.
This was thought to be merely a joke, but it has foundation in fact.
Many men with poor constitutions live to a very advanced age. They study
themselves and live simply. They realize that they are not strong and
they do not indulge themselves, but reach out for health and strength in
all ways.

Among all the practices which men have adopted through different ages
for prolonging life we find many which are universally believed, though
possibly not practiced. Some discussion of these may give us courage and
enable us to realize how unscientifically, how carelessly, most men
live, and how indifferent we really are to our well-being.

And yet we find wide-spread doubt as to the advisability of being too
fastidious. Some of the extravagant ideas have n