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and； a writer in the Strand Magazine points out that an insurance investigator some years ago gathered a list of 225 centenarians of almost every social rank and many nationalities； but the majority of them Britons or Russians。
In reviewing Walford's statistics we must remember that it has only been in recent years that the middle and lower classes of people have taken insurance on their lives。 Formerly only the wealthy and those exposed to early demise were in the habit of insuring。
Dr。 Ogle of the English Registrar…General's Department gives tables of expectancy that show that 82 males and 225 females out of 1；000；000 are alive at one hundred years。 The figures are based on the death…rates of the years 1871…80。
The researches of Hardy in the thirteenth； fourteenth； fifteenth； and sixteenth centuries are said to indicate that three…score…and…ten was considered old age； yet many old tombstones and monuments contain inscriptions recording age far beyond this； and even the pages of ordinary biographies disprove the alleged results of Hardy's research。
In all statistical work of an individual type the histories of the lower classes are almost excluded； in the olden times only the lives and movements of the most prominent are thought worthy of record。 The reliable parish register is too often monopolized by the gentry； inferior births not being thought worth recording。
Many eminent scientists say that the natural term of the life of an animal is five times the period needed for its development。 Taking twenty…one as the time of maturity in man； the natural term of human life would be one hundred and five。 Sir Richard Owen fixes it at one hundred and three and a few months。
Censuses of Centenarians。Dr。 Farr； the celebrated English Registrar…General； is credited with saying that out of every 1；000；000 people in England only 223 live to be one hundred years old； making an average of one to 4484。 French says that during a period of ten years； from 1881 to 1890； in Massachusetts； there were 203 deaths of persons past the age of one hundred； making an average； with a population of 394；484； of one in 1928。 Of French's centenarians 165 were between one hundred and one hundred and five； 35 were between one hundred and five and one hundred and ten； five were between one hundred and ten and one hundred and fifteen； and one was one hundred and eighteen。 Of the 203； 153 were females and 50 males。 There are 508 people in Iowa who are more than ninety years of age。 There are 21 who are more than one hundred years old。 One person is one hundred and fifteen years old； two are one hundred and fourteen； and the remaining 18 are from one hundred to one hundred and seven。
In the British Medical Journal for 1886 there is an account of a report of centenarians。 Fifty…two cases were analyzed。 One who doubts the possibility of a man reaching one hundred would find this report of interest。
The Paris correspondent to the London Telegraph is accredited with the following：
〃A census of centenarians has been taken in France； and the results； which have been published； show that there are now alive in this country 213 persons who are over one hundred years old。 Of these 147 are women； the alleged stronger sex being thus only able to show 66 specimens who are managing to still 〃husband out life's taper〃 after the lapse of a century。 The preponderance of centenarians of the supposed weaker sex has led to the revival of some amusing theories tending to explain this phenomenon。 One cause of the longevity of women is stated to be； for instance； their propensity to talk much and to gossip； perpetual prattle being highly conducive； it is said； to the active circulation of the blood； while the body remains unfatigued and undamaged。 More serious theorists or statisticians； while commenting on the subject of the relative longevity of the sexes； attribute the supremacy of woman in the matter to the well…known cause； namely； that in general she leads a more calm and unimpassioned existence than a man； whose life is so often one of toil； trouble； and excitement。 Setting aside these theories； however； the census of French centenarians is not devoid of interest in some of its details。 At Rocroi an old soldier who fought under the First Napoleon in Russia passed the century limit last year。 A wearer of the St。 Helena medala distinction awarded to survivors of the Napoleonic campaigns； and who lives at Grand Fayt； also in the Nordis one hundred and three years old； and has been for the last sixty…eight years a sort of rural policeman in his native commune。 It is a rather remarkable fact in connection with the examples of longevity cited that in almost every instance the centenarian is a person in the humblest rank of life。 According to the compilers of these records； France can claim the honor of having possessed the oldest woman of modern times。 This venerable dame； having attained one hundred and fifty years； died peacefully in a hamlet in the Haute Garonne； where she had spent her prolonged existence； subsisting during the closing decade of her life on goat's milk and cheese。 The woman preserved all her mental faculties to the last； but her body became attenuated to an extraordinary degree； and her skin was like parchment。〃
In the last ten years the St。 James' Gazette has kept track of 378 centenarians； of whom 143 were men and 235 were women。 A writer to the Strand Magazine tells of 14 centenarians living in Great Britain within the last half…dozen years。
It may be interesting to review the statistics of Haller； who has collected the greatest number of instances of extreme longevity。 He found：
1000 persons who lived from 100 to 110 15 persons who lived from 130 to 140 60 〃 〃 〃 〃 110 to 120 6 〃 〃 〃 〃 140 to 150 29 〃 〃 〃 〃 120 to 130 1 person 〃 〃 〃 to 169
Effect of Class…Influences； Occupation； etc。Unfortunately for the sake of authenticity； all the instances of extreme age in this country have been from persons in the lower walks of life or from obscure parts of the country； where little else than hearsay could be procured to verify them。 It must also be said that it is only among people of this class that we can expect to find parallels of the instances of extreme longevity of former times。 The inhabitants of the higher stations of life； the population of thickly settled communities； are living in an age and under conditions almost incompatible with longevity。 In fact； the strain of nervous energy made necessary by the changed conditions of business and mode of living really predisposes to premature decay。
Those who object to the reliability of reports of postcentenarianism seem to lose sight of these facts； and because absolute proof and parallel cannot be obtained they deny the possibility without giving the subject full thought and reason。 As tending to substantiate the multitude of instances are the opinions of such authorities as Hufeland； Buffon； Haller； and Flourens。 Walter Savage Landor on being told that a man in Russia was living at one hundred and thirty…two replied that he was possibly older； as people when they get on in years are prone to