Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-06-22
Knoxville Journal
KNOXVILLE. JUNE %, 1876.
The champion Censcnarian.
lst. Louis Republican,
n Gnupxy opa .1d Cont


4 found one old Cente-
marian who was ninety-nine years
and eleven months but the doctor
didn't think he could run the string
out, neither could / wait, for time is
precious in Centennial matters.
Seemed there was no resource left
but to advertise. This is what APP
peared In the next mornings paper
Wanted--A smart, active, A
Centenarian 100 years OF age. Must
be able to talk and have q recon-
mendation from the Continental
Congress. One who lives with his
great grandchildren preferred. Call
on 1. x. p, 222 Canal street.
The result exceeded my expecta-
tions, as the man said when he blew
in a gun barrel About ten O'Clock
the neighbors thought that free In.
Urinary had been opened in my
boarding-house, and the front door
steps looked like an old folks con-
cert. tfte @ f"
To have interviewed that conyen-
ton individually would have been
impossible. interviewed them coll
lectively. "My friends" remark
cd, 81 expected to receive a call
from one fan hundred, but you have
come hundred and ono. My heart
bfeeds when ! think that / cannot
hold personal converse with you sep
aratcly, and am overwhelmed by
the thought that the sum Of your
combined years must be some 5000.
Only think Of 1t, my antiquarian
follow citizens, you commenced
about the time of Pharaoh. What a
long and brilliant future Is before
you! In this free and noble land
there Is no limit to the aspirations OF
youthful genius; be true to your
selves, be true to your country and
send me postal card with your local
habitation and name inscribed
thereon that may visit you in the
quiet of your own firesides." With
murmur Of applause the audience
dispersed, and left me confronted by
neatly, but plainly dressed old
lady, who, 10th to leave, had appar-
ontly fingered to enter into CONVERSE
ton with me. Her scanty gray locks
were gathered with scrupulous care
beneath cap Of snowy whiteness,
and although her nose and chin were
in extraordinary proximity, and her
face furrowed with the lines Of years,
still a pleasant smile lighted her fea-
lures as, after having invited her in
to tho house, she said think j
can produce him. How old do you
want him? He warn't able to come
out himself this morning and / says,
I'll go in your stead"
"You seem to be good represen.
tative, my dear madam; pray Of
what age is your husband ?"
Ho would have been eighty four
noxt month If he had lived, but he's
been dead these forty years."
But / thought you said he
couldn't come out this morning"
"Well of course he can't; but ]
wasn't speaking Of husband, i meant
great grandfather"
You know how the miner feels
when he finds big nugget-you
know how you feel when rich rela-
ton dies and leaves you an immense
fortune-U don't was overcome
with weakness ut this fortunate dis
covery Of first-class centurion-1
IL needed no urging on my part.to
hasten the precious old lady in guild
ing me to the abode Of the invalua-
bic old valetudirarian.
After moderately.long ride
through the old French quarter, and
short walk, my octogenerian guide
stopped at a house fronting directly
upon the street.
Trailing vines, rich with brilliant
flowers, fostooned tho time-worn
walls, while from an oval grass.plat
In tho center Of the courtyard a
grand banana tree spread Quits long
and dropping leaves sand under that |
banana tree sat my long sought cen
tenarian. If anybody had ever told |
me thata revolutionary soldier would |
be found sitting in the shade ofa
banana tree, / would have said,
that's too thin" and that Is what
mentally exclaimed when / did sec
him. can't tell exactly how thin
he was-there didn't seem to BIO any
thing to measure. A carpenter
could have used him for o rule. IL
think IL he were dropped in a post
hole there would DO room to spare;
tho shadow of lightning rod would
put him In eclipse. Ho sat propped
up with pillows In willow rocking
chair, placed by loving hands, where
he could be cooled by the breezes
and enjoy the fragrance of the How-
ers. Although emaciated and feeble
to the last degree, he noticed his
great granddaughter as she led me
toward him, and as she bent over
him, he chucked her under the chin
lovingly and said, SCOT home from
SCHOOLGIRL" "Been good girl, $
Fanny How do you spell catg'' Ii
That's his way" said the old q
lady--"Ho seems to live away back \
In the past" l.I t'fla In
He must have had stentorian l
voice when young for itlwas uncom- 0
monty strong even now for one OF il
his frame. lie had cut and lost a
1hree sets of teeth; he was just get 0
ing his second hearing. toH d
Grandpoppy, here's a gentleman p
,ome to talk with you.'' ' III
lie turned his eyes toward mo and u
commenced nodding to me SO vehe- I
nently that ] begged him not to, for p
: L