Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2)Holyoake, George Jacob
Philosophy
Bygones Worth Remembering, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Holyoake, George Jacob
Holyoake, George Jacob, 1817-1906; Social reformers -- Great Britain -- Biography; Working class -- Great Britain -- Biography
"Ernest Jones (who received 900 votes), Feargus O'Connor, John Arnott,
T. M. Wheeler, James Grassby, John Shaw, W. J. Linton, J. J. Bezer, G.
J. Holyoake.
"Messrs. J. B. O'Brien, Gerald Massey, and Arthur Trevelyan having
declined to serve, the votes received on their behalf have not been
recognised.
"We, the undersigned, hereby declare the nine persons first named to be
duly elected to form the Executive Committee for the ensuing year.
"John Washington, City Locality.
"Edwd. John Loomes, Finsbury Locality.
"December 31, 1851."
*****
After I became an octogenarian, I was asked whether my years might be
ascribed to my habits. I could only explain what my habits were. In the
first half of my life I ate whatever came to hand, and as not enough
came I easily observed moderation. But then I was disposed to be
moderate on principle, having read in the _Penny Magazine_, about
1830, that Dr. Abernethy told a lady "she might eat anything eatable
in moderation." In the second and later half of my life I gave heed to
Carnaro, and sought to limit each meal to the least quantity necessary
for health. The limitation of quantity included liquids as well as
solids, decreasing the amount of both "in relation to age and activity,"
as Sir Henry Thompson advised. Not thinking much of meat, I limited that
to a small amount, and cereals to those that grow above ground. A tepid
bath for the eye (on the recommendation of the Rev. Dr. Molesworth, of
Rochdale) and a soap bath for the body every morning ends the catalogue
of my habits.
My general mode of mind has been to avoid excess in food, in pleasure,
in work, and in expectation. By not expecting much, I have been saved
from worry if nothing came. When anything desirable did arrive, I had
the double delight of satisfaction and surprise. Shakespeare's counsel--
"Be not troubled with the tide which bears
O'er thy contents its strong necessities,
But let determined things to destiny
Hold, unbewailed their way"--
ought to be part of every code of health.
The conduciveness of my habits to longevity may be seen in this. More
than forty of my colleagues, all far more likely to live than myself,
have long been dead. Had I been as strong as they, I also should have
died as they did. Lacking their power of hastening to the end, I have
lingered behind.
*****
For the rest--
"From my window is a glimpse of sea
Enough for me,
And every evening through the window bars
Peer in the friendly stars."
The principles and aims of earlier years are confirmed by experience at
88. Principles are like plants and flowers. They suit only those whom
they nourish. Nothing is adapted to everybody.
*****
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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