, 1867-04-19
A Man of Regular Habits.

Some twenty-five years ago, or perbaps a
little more, an aged and highly respected nhv,
scan departed this life in one Of the copn,iss ~
Massachusetts,. In fact, this worthy gentleman
had reached the extraordinary age of one hun.
dred and 6ve years.
No little interest, as may be imagined, had
lowered around his slowly declining davs and
this was naturally looked up to him as lis father
aud guide. The period of bis death was one of
great excitement in regard to the temperance
question aud it was felt that some important
lessons for the benefit of the cause could be de.
rived from investigation of the ordinary
habits of a gentleman of education and scien,
tihc attainments whose life had been protracted
70 such 40 advanced period, doubtless owing to
the erigorousHdhefenc 70 the1aWsof health and
promulgated and enforced by the total absti,
nence advocates of the day.
Accordingly, after the lapse of a due season,
committee was deputed, on the part of the
temperance societies, to wait upon some near
relative of the old gentleman deceased, in order
to learn positively what had been the course of
his life, and by what means be had SO long pre-
served an existence in the possession of mental
and physical vigor, at length it yielded to abso.
lutte decay of bodily powers without the inter-
vention of any acute disease.
The deputation had proceeded to the ancient
physicians late place of residence, waited upon
gentleman who was his grandson, obtaining
from him all the particulars concerning his
aged relative. After due sentiments of condo.
lence had been expressed, the suitable INQUIRIES
were propounded.
" Doubtless" said the chief interlocutor.
"your grandfather, enjoying such a remarkable
span of existence, was a strict observer of the
rules of temperance; we need express our conf
dence that he INDUCED in nc excess in the use
of any hurtful kind of drink"
" oh no, sir; you may be sure of that Ny
grandfather was person of regular habits
"But We would like to know, if you please" :"
pursued the questiouer, something in particu-
lar regarding his mode of life; how, for
instance, be began, and passed, and ended the
day"
Well, sir, when be first rose in the morning,
he took about half glass of pure Jamaica rum ;
my grandfather was person of very regular
habits; this was his uniform custom"
This, suppose" said the inquirer, was to
give a sort of flip to his system after the leth.
argy of heightened repose, made requisite as
an exceptional case by his very advanced Pc
riod of life. Please tell us what his practice
was during the rest of the day"
" Ny grandfather was person of very regular
habits, aud took nothing else of that sort until
one O'Clock, and then only glass Of Jamaica
rum"
"Indecd Did he drink anything with his
meals2
"Not exactly with his meals about half an
hour before dinner be drank mixture to which
be was partial, consisting of half and half of
aldaE an Euua But after chat il Syas Lis au.toy,
to go out for shUTt walk aud return ufuuer
When dinner was half through, he would then
drink, say glass of rum or whisky, as the case
might be, aud another when dinner was over.
Dinner was always the table at one o'clock.
He took no more until four O'Clock, and after
that a small quantity in his tea. His practice
was not to drink anything else until near bed
time, which was always nine O'Clock, when he
had glass or two of whisky or rum unless,
indeed, some neighbor or friend came in to Join
him. He was very hospitable always, and, as
have remarked, extremely regular in his
habits"
The committee looked at one another, and
hesitated about pursuing the inquiry any fur
ther. 1t occurred to them, however, that it
would be well to save themselves, if possible, in
regard to the use of tobacco
Did DR.. - ever smoke p asked the chairs
man.
" That" said the host, was one of his most
regular habits. He was not often without pipe
in his mouth, when not engaged professionally.
He did not smoke in bed"
" Surely, then, he used tobacco in no other
way" suggested the interrogation
My grandfather, every Saturday afternoon,
gentlemen, purchased a certain quantity of pig
tail tobacco, say from twentySone to twenty-five
inches in length this he cut into seven differ
ent portions, one of which per day, and no
more, be used for chewing in the course of the
seven days of the week. Ny grandfather's
habits, as have observed, -"
"Oh, confound your grandfather and his
habits = broke in the questioner, out of all pa>
tience. al beg your pardon, sir but it is not
necessary to pursue the subject further"