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Literary
January 16, 1761
The New Hampshire Gazette
Portsmouth, Rockingham County, New Hampshire
What is this article about?
A philosophical essay on the fragility of health in old age, likened to an undermined tower or brittle glass bubbles, translated from M. Huet, Bishop of Avranches, who wrote it aged 80-90, with a note on a contemporary national example.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
On the Precariousness of the Health of Old Men; from the French of M. Huet, Bishop of Avranches.
The vigorous State of Health, which is observed in some Old Men is like a Tower that is undermined.
Such a Tower may appear as solid, as strong. and durable, as when it was first Built ; nevertheless it has no foundation, and is only shored up by a few Props. which failing at once, it is ruined in an Instant. In Old Men the foundations of Life are destroyed ; the radical Juice is exhausted : the vital parts are worn and decayed ; the Machine is only upheld by a few Props; that is to say, by the contexture, and the continuance of the motion impressed at first. This appearance of Health may likewise be compared to those Glass Bubbles, which seem perfectly solid but if you press them a little will fly into a thousand Pieces.
[The above was written. when the Author was between 80 and 90 Years of Age, and of the Truth of it we of this Nation have now a melancholy instance before our Eyes]
The vigorous State of Health, which is observed in some Old Men is like a Tower that is undermined.
Such a Tower may appear as solid, as strong. and durable, as when it was first Built ; nevertheless it has no foundation, and is only shored up by a few Props. which failing at once, it is ruined in an Instant. In Old Men the foundations of Life are destroyed ; the radical Juice is exhausted : the vital parts are worn and decayed ; the Machine is only upheld by a few Props; that is to say, by the contexture, and the continuance of the motion impressed at first. This appearance of Health may likewise be compared to those Glass Bubbles, which seem perfectly solid but if you press them a little will fly into a thousand Pieces.
[The above was written. when the Author was between 80 and 90 Years of Age, and of the Truth of it we of this Nation have now a melancholy instance before our Eyes]
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Death Mortality
What keywords are associated?
Old Age Health
Fragility Metaphor
Tower Analogy
Glass Bubbles
Mortality Reflection
Aging Decay
What entities or persons were involved?
From The French Of M. Huet, Bishop Of Avranches
Literary Details
Title
On The Precariousness Of The Health Of Old Men; From The French Of M. Huet, Bishop Of Avranches.
Author
From The French Of M. Huet, Bishop Of Avranches
Key Lines
The Vigorous State Of Health, Which Is Observed In Some Old Men Is Like A Tower That Is Undermined.
Such A Tower May Appear As Solid, As Strong. And Durable, As When It Was First Built ; Nevertheless It Has No Foundation, And Is Only Shored Up By A Few Props. Which Failing At Once, It Is Ruined In An Instant.
This Appearance Of Health May Likewise Be Compared To Those Glass Bubbles, Which Seem Perfectly Solid But If You Press Them A Little Will Fly Into A Thousand Pieces.