THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.

Colonist, Volume LII, Issue 12772, 20 April 1910, Page 1

THE ELIXIR OF LIFE.

— — — Sir Hiram Maxim, the famous inventor, and Dr. Furnivall, the distinguished scholar, both celebrated their birtlidays the other day. Sir Hiram, a merei youth of seventy, got up' at 6.30 a.m. and spc::t a sixtecn-hour day in work and recreation, whilst Dr. Furnivall, a middle-aged man of eighty five, spent a good part of his day. in rowing on the Thames and in entertaining young folks at his birthday party. They were asked to supply their mcipes for long life and success. Sir Hiram Maxim replied with tho following rules of conduct : — Avoid tobacco ; avoid alcohol ; never waste a moment ; always be anxious, to find something useful to do ; be accurate and persevering ; rise early and retire to bed before midnight. "The man who watches the clock is timing disaster" he added. "Evexy road leads to somewhere ; find out where it ends before you tread it. Don't be a mere copyist. Do something no one has.done "before." Dr. Furnival replied tho secret of a long and happy career lay in nevc<r smoking, never drinking, always having a' hobby, and reading and thinking. Heading without thought was useless. The basis of the recipes for the elixir of life is, in each case, the non-use of tobacco and alcohol. Thero are other ingredients, which may bo added, so to speak, "to taste," but both these wonderfully old-youg men are in agreement that nicotine and alcohol are inimical to healthy longevity.