Mistakes, that tend to shorten life, are made because man must learn what is the "best course" largely by experience. To counteract these mistakes many ways are provided by which to mend the "broken bowl," even though, in most cases, it is mended only to be broken again. The family physician, nature cures, magnetism, electricity, patent medicines, and mind cures, all serve a similar purpose. Even the Christian Scientist, who does not fear disease, as he is confident he can "demonstrate over" it, is on just a little different plane of mending "broken bowls." This condition of overcoming is a necessity, and the ability to "demonstrate over" dangerous places should reach a high degree of perfection, but with it, in every form, should be closely associated the much greater aim of discovering how to live more scientifically, that the life machinery may run smoothly, thus the pain and suffering of diseases, crimes, mistakes and all kinds of vital ruptures may be gradually avoided.

While it requires a certain amount of directed effort to pursue a systematic course of living, that is free from injury, it is easier to live right, when one knows how, than to live in a drifting manner and suffer the consequences.

As a few generations are regulated to the simple natural life that would sustain itself for centuries, it becomes "bred in the bone." The desire for crime and destructive tendencies is gradually lost, hence long life becomes an inheritance as well as a product of direct effort.

Long life is fast becoming of commercial value. Old age is no longer respected as it was a century ago. Even the opinion and experience of age, that should be of more weight than the immature judgment of youth, are being looked upon with suspicion, because of the feeling that the mental decline, after the half-century mark is passed, renders man less trustworthy than in early maturity. Although the intimation of Dr. Osier, while addressing a body of medical students before his departure for Oxford "That men past sixty years of age should be chloroformed as useless," is too extreme for consideration, his opinion that man reaches his prime at thirty-five, and has only fifteen years of real maturity before beginning to decline, is sustained indirectly by all corporations employing labor. Positions of trust are not given to men on the downhill road, even though such positions may be retained for a time if acquired by them in early life. Ministers, teachers, doctors, and lawyers, as well as great statesmen, are also ignored or less honored as age advances, young men taking their places. It is true that this is fulfilling a law of nature, but it is just as true that the mature life may be maintained for a greater number of years, and it is worth the effort to attain it through education as a race acquisition. As the preparation for life becomes more mature, and thorough, the term of existence must be increased instead of diminished, else the preparation is to no purpose.

Only a few requirements are necessary to begin to live to prolong life, and fulfill the highest human destiny in hastening race evolution:

1. To cultivate a desire for long life.

2. To realize the possibility of prolonging life indefinitely.

3. To arouse the will and energy to live each day for that great purpose.

At first blush it seems that everyone would desire to live for centuries, providing youth or maturity could be retained, but the race belief in death at "three-score-years-and-ten" is so fixed that it requires some time to change the habitual thoughts of the shortness of life and desire to live longer, or grasp the possibilities of any different condition; in fact, the idea, for a time, is regarded by many as sacrilegious, and is even distasteful. The feeling that life is an up-hill journey, at best, and that death, in the near future, is a relief, is also a barrier; but with all the false teaching the exact time never comes, in normal life, when one is willing to say, "I do not desire to live longer," even though bowed with age. Had death been established as a reward for noble living it might be courted, but as it is a penalty man may bring upon himself at any time, by dissipation, sin and ignorant mistakes, it is to his credit to defer it as long as possible, the only noble death being that of sacrifice of life for others.

The "conquest of. death" does not mean that one will ever reach a place absolutely immune from dissolution, but that the best methods of living render one more positive to negative and disintegrating forces. Vitality resists disease. Long life does not interfere in any way with the usual religious preparation for the future, as it is inevitable, even centuries being a small part of eternity, besides the hold upon life may be accidentally lost at any time. The best Christians should live the longest, at the same time all who aspire to long life should gladly seek all uplifting religious influences, as an aid rather than a duty, hence the two great causes go hand in hand.

No matter how unnatural the thought of long life may be at first, it is a part of Nature's plan, as fast as the race develops to it, and even though cast aside for a time, as is customary with all new movements, or discoveries, it returns again and the mind reflects upon it until it becomes the great center around which everything else must revolve.

The reason says:

1. It is sweet to live.

2. It is right to live longer, as a long life means a better life.

3. It is a duty to "live to live" as well as to live to die.

4. Our work has just begun, and we should live longer to do greater good.

5. It is our duty to our children to make long life a part of their inheritance.

6. It is a duty to preserve our youth and vigor to retain our usefulness, and avoid being a burden to others.

7. Death is slow suicide, at best, and we should do our duty in preventing it as long as possible, as every phase of the effort to live is elevating to humanity.

8. Such a life is the beginning of heaven upon earth and will usher in the millennium. No one who aspires to live will kill, steal, drink, or indulge in passion or other moral turpitudes.

9. It is not only a duty but a privilege to be young and free, and enjoy life as long as possible, even as long as the patriarchs of old.

Thus the great moral influence of the long life philosophy appeals to the mind; the new hope is born, the great possibility becomes apparent, the desire to know how is all-possessing, and the will-ingness to make the effort is established.