In that age there were neither dentists nor oculists. When teeth started to decay, there was, therefore, no dentist to be called in to arrest or overcome the destroyer; or being sought too late, to place artificial teeth in the mouth to do the work of the natural ones. When the eye, wearied by use or becoming defective from any cause failed to focus perfectly, its possessor could not see clearly to carry himself from place to place; hence he moved more slowly and the chemical constituents of his bones began to undergo a change. To prolong life under such existing conditions would certainly be to fill it with labor and sorrow. Being unable to properly nourish his system or to see to move about and among people, other faculties became impaired by non-use; what more natural then than to declare death's goal had been reached? Today, we have learned how to overcome these physical conditions, so that at this period of life one old in years can masticate food as completely and see as perfectly as during most vigorous youth.

It is only within the past century that it has been demonstrated that the entire human system is year by year throwing off and taking on to such an extent that within a maximum of seven years at most the whole physical being is completely changed. Later investigations make the term much less. Flammarion, I believe, limits it to ten months. As to the length of the term, I do not argue. The maximum limit or the minimum may be accepted. The fact of this complete renewal repeating itself at short periods of time proves that the comparing of a human being to a machine as to duration of life is absurd. Keep renewing the worn parts of a machine as they lose their usefulness, and the machine will never wear out.

As I endeavor to reach back in thought to that early age when that combined history and prophecy of man's allotted term on this earth was written, I find that though the period is distant eons from primitive man, the human then had a most circumscribed existence. He to an extent dominated the animal kingdom, but he himself was not free. National life and all its joys and woes had not yet thrilled the human heart. Ambition was almost unknown. A few leaders whose power was a development through thought-force assumed control of the many. To that few a gleam of light had come, for evolution was even then at work, and they thought themselves into leadership, boasting a higher origin than the masses whom they awed and commanded and ruled. To extend life was not a thought or purpose of that age; but to rule, to possess, to conquer, and to enjoy.

Age after age has succeeded, and man in thought has claimed more and more in way of wealth and luxury and knowledge. For these he has often sacrificed health and peace and happiness; and yet he has advanced to a high plane of intellectuality. He has given to enjoyment a thousand meanings his ancestors could not have imagined to be comprised within that word. He has entered forbidden fields in search of knowledge, and from them has culled glorious truths. He has learned to pierce through space without limitations. He has to a wonderful extent annihilated distance, and talks with those separated from him a thousand miles and more. He seeks for treasures hidden beneath the once uncontrollable waters lying below the expanse of earth, and even oceans form for him no fetters.

During the past thirty or forty years man has been thinking more of the necessity of maintaining good health and of preserving a vigorous manhood than at any period of his history. Successes having been won that place him on a satisfactory plane financially, he studies how to enjoy himself there, and how to prolong life to extend that enjoyment. He has been told repeatedly during the past quarter century that man, as to all that constitutes his individuality, is a product of his own thoughts. Proofs of this have been brought before him so complete that, although he practically accepts them, he is not always ready to enter into the discipline necessary to introduce right thinking where wrong thinking has brought unhappiness or failure.

Before making the application to man of the philosophy outlined herein, let us turn for a moment to the development and decay of life in a few of our domestic animals. The offspring of the cow, whether male or female, reaches maturity in a single year. At the age of twelve we find that bull or cow still in vigorous life, yet its age then represents a multiple of twelve from maturity. The same practically can be said of the dog, and the cat, while the hog matures earlier and lives a shorter life, and the horse matures at two and retains his vigor much longer than the cow. In human beings the average age of passing puberty is fourteen. If the history of domestic animals permits us to draw any inference as to comparison regarding age of deterioration, then man at twelve times fourteen, or at the age of one hundred and sixty-eight, should be as vigorous as the average man of sixty to-day. I do not say that man, as to age claimed to have been allotted, should be brought into comparison with domes tic animals; but I do claim, if a comparison is to be made, it should be by taking multiples from the age of maturity.

Why is it, then, that man has failed to take his heritage of years, if it be true that so far he has not taken it? Is not this question already answered? He read and heard the record expounded to him. He accepted it. He studied himself carefully and learned the age of bodily vigor, of mental awakening, of physical growth, of early and ripe manhood, as evidenced by man living under that conviction. He fitted these periods to the years allotted as given in the record, and went forward in his work. In his thought were fixed his probable and possible limitations of life. In going forward with such fixed ideas of the limits of human life on this planet, age will and must bring its marks and leave them impressed on one, year by year, beginning about the age of fifty. Man in all that marks his individuality is, therefore, a reflection of the thoughts entertained during his life-time. They stamp on his face, character, and on his form, vigor or decay.

Let the reader call up in memory some of his old friends. Some he will find at their posts in the office, shop or bank, happy and joking midst their work after passing the fourscore limit.

Others at sixty are complaining, weak, sorrowful, out-of-tune with the world, or tearfully laboring and striving to learn how to get to heaven.

I remember in 1895 my professional business brought me to Augusta, Maine. One day a gentleman with whom I was walking halted a friend of his in a most familiar way, saying, "Wait a moment, Senator, let me introduce you to a friend of mine, as I want him to know how young some old men can be." The party accosted awaited the formalities of introduction and then said, "Yes, I am ninety-three years young." "And when did you begin to say 'young' instead of 'old?'" I asked. To this he replied, "At seventy." I looked at him and felt forced to remark, "I don't believe you have grown apparently a day older since then." He replied, "I certainly don't feel that I have." This gentleman was an ex-U. S. Senator, a Mr. Bradbury, who a few years ago passed over to the other side. He had never, I believe, given advanced thought serious study, and he held no theories concerning the prolongation of life differing from those around him. Did the extending of life with health come from the repeated speaking of those phrases where he united his ego with the single word, young? Henry Wood would call it ideal suggestion.

Through this, the spiritual ego is awakened and consciousness is brought to a conception of the real divine self and its power.

To live that one may be oblivious to years, I claim first he must attach no importance to that old record. It doubtless represented the average age man lived at that period of history, but that does not concern us now. Next to this, one should recall the teachings of science as to the renewal of our bodies, and determine to fill his mind with love of vigorous manhood. It is not perpetual youth we seek, it is vigorous, unblemished and unlimited manhood or womanhood. This, if one desire it, I boldly claim is attainable, because it is one of the possible products of thought. It is yours, reader, to claim and enjoy, if you will. To will it to you requires daily thought of a character that uplifts and never depresses. Surely such delightful thinking ought to be no task. Does one ask further if I fix any limit to the time man may, in years to come, learn to hold body and soul together and dwell on this earth: To this, I reply, I fix no limit; still, when I take note of the great battles each will fight with others whose thinking is opposite, and knowing the mental opposing current to be met, I recognize that it will oppress many in their efforts and possibly prevent their reaching the advanced limits they may set. What matters it after all? In any event, by right thinking health will be improved, life lengthened, some victories won, and a new truth in due course of time demonstrated to aid progressive man.

One's friends too often work great injury to those they would kindly help by mentally following them and looking forward to their failure in this or that undertaking. If one does not agree with the course his friend is taking, and the friend is working honorably and resolutely as he feels is best, send forward, if you want to favor him, thoughts of success (you may be wrong in your conclusions, and he may be right), and then you are doing your part to help him onward.

The fountain of youth was sought for in the past - to-day a strong, intellectual and extended manhood or womanhood, till one feels he has completed his purpose, is the desire of the workers in the world. Within our own mentalities is the crystal, life-giving spring. If we seek we shall find. If with age come enfeeblement to one, let him know his own thoughts have brought it on, and the responsibility is his alone. With the throwing aside of all thoughts of sickness and failure and death and anxieties concerning what is beyond, I would urge also one cultivate love of youth, of life, of work, of happiness and of progress. These are aids to right thinking along the line that strengthens the union of body and soul; and a firm binding is needed between the physical and the spiritual that one may complete the full cycles due him on the earth plane, in order that he may enter spirit life fully prepared to undertake its higher lessons which can only begin when freedom is absolute, and distance, time and environment have been annihilated.

"Out in the Future, star-crowned and bright,

Waiteth for you a dawning of light.

It is coming to you, no other shall prize

The glowing tints that for you arise.

On your path alone shall its light be shed,

Ilium 'ing the way that your feet must tread.

Though darkness and doubt overshadow just here

Be patient and trustful, - the dawning is near."

- Lillian Whiting.

The study of humanity and its accomplishments shows that they who travel the pathway of success conjure up no unseen or theological deity possessing power to thwart. They battle with no imaginary enemy; and they find, combined with potency, a divinity in their own thoughts and purposes which directs them to the attainment of worthy ambitions.