THEOLD MAN’s GUIDE.
THEOLD MAN’s GUIDE.
Healthful old age is the most valuable period of human life: Experience has rendered the antient more able than those who have seen less, and felt less, to conduct themselves, and their descendants: and being freed from the empire of the passions, they enjoy quiet.
Philosophy pretends to this condition; but age gives it truly: Whatever our heirs may think, it is worth preserving; and in that sense I write the present Treatise.
A hundred are cut off by disorders which a regular course of life might prevent; for one who dies of age, or its unavoidable effects: Many fall by accidents; to one who is fairly called away by nature. The purpose of this Treatise is to direct the means, by which these accidents may be avoided, and those disorders timely obviated.
Old mens diseases are hard to cure; but they are easy to prevent. It must be a good natural fabric which has preserved itself so long; and the same strength may keep it much longer well, under good regulation.
Moderate diet, and due exercise, are the best guardians of health in all: but in the advanced period here considered there are two great preservatives besides; these are Ease, and Cheerfulness: both are the natural offspring of health; and they will continue the blessing to which they owe their birth.
It may be expected, I should now say, at what period of Life the state of it that we call aged, begins: but nature has herself left this undeterminable. The weakness and infirmities of age come at different years, in different constitutions: I could at this hour point out a very young man of eighty-seven: and the purlieus of Covent-Garden abound with very old men at seven-and-twenty: but to speak in general terms, it may be said, that the period of Life, for which we are giving rules and regulations, begins about fifty-eight; tho’ the greater Infirmities of age do not advance till several years after.