The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1868-09-10

Stnngcih visiting the Chutcll of AsGpn-
sion In New York cannot fail io Notice the
presence of nm old gentleman, Nho occcu-
pics an arm chair immediately ih front Of
the cbancel in the middle aisle, and who
gives the responses 10 the service in u very
lddd ttd distinct manner. ThisiB perhaps
the Oldest man of the entire million of New
York tity's inhabitants. 10 isCapthin Lnhr-
bush. formerly OF the British army, but
for the last twenty yers a New York resi-
lent. He was born in London on the 9th
day of March, 1776. " is perhaps not ex-
t%ravngnut to say that his life had been more
remarkable, embracing more various and
extraordinary experiences than that Of any
one now living in any qunrter Of the globe.
He entered the military service of Great
Britain on the 18th of October, 1859. and
fought under the Duke Of York with the
Goth rifles in Holland, in the campaign of
1903. Five years. later he was present
when Humbert surrendered TO Lord Corn
wallis at Ballinnnutki Ireland. I'm 1901
.he was with Lord Nelson at the tdkiur' of
Copenhagen. In 1906 Z. he was nn aUuche
of the suit of Lord CastleTeagh ut Yieuun,
and ON the 22d Of June Of the latter ythrho
witne8sedthe memorable iutcrview between
Napoleon and Alexander NJ Tiljt. During
the succeeding two years he was with The
Duke ~ wellington in the Spanish PENN
snla, and Was knighttd ut Talevam, uCter
having received promotion for distinguish
ed Ballhntry ut Busaco. In the year 1871
he was sent 10 the Cape of Good Hope. and
bore a prominent part in the Cailre war OF
1913 When Napoleon was Imprisoned at
St Helena, Captain Lahrhush was charged
with his personal custody % commander Of
the guard. a delicate aud responsible duty.
which he performed for the greater part OF
1SiG-17. The following year wearying in
the military profession, he sold his com.
mission in the Goth rifles. aud retired to
private life, but subsequently went TO Ans.
trnlia in the capacity of Superintendent of
the convict station Mt Bathurst, and in 1897.
ut the age of seveBty-ono, removed to Ta-
hit. From this point he made many vow
ages to the East Indies, 10 Chinns and to
different parts Of South America. mise.
in consequences ofhavihg taken sidhs with
the Protestant missionaries against the
Roman Catholic propaganda, he was forci-
bly, removed by the French from Tnhiti to
France and took occasion Of this removal
TO travel ON the Continent. In 1917, when
81 years of age he undertook the manage
ment of Lord Howard de Wolden's estate in
the leland OF Jamaica, and upon the cmou-
tipution of negroes in 1913. came with his
NiNNfNfAl NiOklAfl NilAA AiNli'NN'llA ~ llllh
city. Both mother and child died soon
after their arrival, leaving him TO his ud-
vanced uge, lonely indeed. Hut the old
man has lived on t0 the present moment in
the enjoyment vt uninterrupted health,
with his mental faculties unimpnircd and u
truly wonderful degree of bodily health.
In 1867 he celebrated his l0ist birthday
vt q breakfast in the house of IN eminent
gentleman ofNew York, where many oni-
GERS and citizens were invited to meet him.
disappearance ~ that of II hale old man,
aud az seen In churchhc looks thcjunior Of
of many others in the congregation.
The most surprising fact connected With
the old gcntleman's prolonged life, tx that
for many years he was in the daily habit of
taking scventy-ive grains of opium, and on
one occasion he took one hundred and fifty
grains in n dose. Though he Inns long
abandoned the use of the drug he feels GER
tain he could drink halfa pint of laudanum
with impunity.
Captain lahrbush is said to retain with
surprising freshness the scenes and events
of some of the guudest and most imposing
of modern history, of which he had been
the eye witness. He speaks of Butcher rs
having been very good company, but a
heavy drinker who swore droOdhully al Nap
oleon. Louisa, the Queen OF Prussia, he
Thought the handsomest woman of her
time, and Alexander OF Russia, the most
elegant loaking man in Europe. As for
Napoleon, whose face he had abundant OPP
portunity 10 study he declares That no like
ness that ever was taken of him conveys
the proper idea Of his features and their
expression. The closest resemblance, he
SAYS. il that of the coins Of the Empire, es-
pecially the profile upon the five frame pie
CCS.