The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1875-09-15
100 YEARS OLD.
The EyentfuI LIFE of Captain Lahrbusch.

Not long ago there was celebrated In
this city, at the modest residence. NO.
5l9 Third avenue, the birthday of proba-
bly, the oldest man in America, Captain
Frederick. Lahrbusch. 1t was his hum
dred and ninth birthday, and this hoary
veteran is still enjoying good health. He
is man Of education, speaking several
languages fuently, and his record in the
British army is of a perfectly marvellous
character. We look upon . man OIL
eighty or ninety as venerable; but these
ocJogenarians and nonogenarians We're
not yet born when Captain Lahrbusch
was already ii ishting in the battle OF lifes
He is u tne, stout, hearty old man,
walks remarkably erect, with eyes OF an
expression wonderfully bright for such
an age, and able TO converse with com
parative ease. His life Is large leaf
out of history. Ney and Blucher were
some of his illustrious friends-Ney, who
was shot in 1915, and Blucher, VINO has
been dead these tllty-six years. Almost
every person whom he has known, even
in his old age, is dead. A brave soldier,
a true and honest man, Captain Lahr-
busch Is revered by all those who know
or remember HIM.
The house iu which this remarkable
veteran llyes, $40 Third avenue, is a
plain brick structure, and the Captain
occupies the second floor. Every morn
ing he takes ride, and not unfrequent-
iy he goes out to breakfast and 10 dine
with some of the numerous prominent
men of the city, who delight to honor his
old age. In the vicinity of his residence
his name, OF course, is household word,
and every body mentions 1t III tone in
stinctiyeiy expressive OF reverence.
HIS BIRTH.
Captain Lahrbuscn was born In Lon
don on the 9th OF March, 17G6, the year in
which Frederick the Great took the first
steps toward the first partition of Po-
land. In that year Louis XIV was on
the throne of France, and Lhe French
power had only just relaxed its hold OF
Ine northern portion OF the United
States.
In England George III had only been
reigning u few years, while in Austria
Maria Theresa Was mourning the death
of her husband. William Pitt was only
boy seven years Old when Captain
Lahrbusch was born, and Robert Burns
was OF the same age. Napoleon l was
born three years alter The captain, who
is still enjoying his meals regularly.
Nine. de Slael was born i'll the same
year as the subject OF this sketch, and
Montesquieu had only been dead nine
years.
HEENTERs THE ARMY.
Captain Lahrbusch entered the British
army in 1883 as volunteer or cadet OF
the military school at Croydon, and
marched with his corps, the Sixtieth
Rifles, in 1898, in the army commanded
by the Duke OF York, to Holland. He
participated in the ensuing campaign OF
I tl,nt Al e1. ~ haI
with Wellington, then major OF the
Thirty. third regiment.
| In 1902 Captain Lahrbusch received q
commission as ensign. In March, 1903
he was selected among a detachment
ordered as guard of honor to the Duke
Of Cambridge, and with the latter visited
Hanover. In 1894 he returned to Eng
land. In 1867, in consequence Of his
iuency in several languages (Which he
| still speaks with ease and correctness
| Ensign Lahrbusch was assigned to the
suite of Lord Castlereagh, Ambassador
from England to Prussia.
| He was present at the ever-memorablt
battle of Jena, October IA, 1906, and was
nearly made a prisoner there by thu
French.
But now as to the more homely parts
of his history. In 1918 rheumatic pains
engendered by service, compelled him tt
resort to opium tor relief. He com
menced with taking half a grain, bu
$was obliged to increase the dose to sew
enty five grains day. This WAS hi
daily dose for very many years, but late
ly he has reduced his daily allowance tt
twenty five grains. AS to his habits o
lite, they are very simple. He rises at
A. NJ, takes nap at noon, and goes tt
bed ut z. NJ. This rule is imperative
as at The latter hour he bursts into ,
proluse perspiration, which compels hin
TO resort to his bed. At midnight b
wakes and takes his opium in one o
more pills as large as he can convenient
ly swallow. In his prime he stood tiy
feet nine inches, but now he has settled
and is some inches shorter.