The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-09-26

he had reached middle life and his wife wa.
then in her teens. He was native of Vir-
ginia and had always lived in the State. He
learned shoemaking when boy, and worked
at his trade for many years during the early
part OF his life. He then chose to devote
his time to active outdoor labor and up to
five years ago he could chop his timber and
make one hundred rails per day. In 1873,
he was thrown from horse and haG leg
broken in three places. On account Of this
serious injury he was confined to bis room
for four months and has since been unable
to move about without the aid OF crutches.
He said he had used tobacco since he was
sixteen years old, had always been coffee
drinker, and acknowledged, also, a fondness
for the stronger beverage. He said, too,
that he did not hesitate TO crafty his taste
in this direction whenever opportunity Of
fered. We asked to what church he belonged
and were surprised when he answered
-''none.' He said that he did not believe
tha5 his being member of any particular
religious denomination was essential to his
salvation, but seemed to think that he could
go to Heaven on the score of his morality
He said, however, that he intended to con-
meet himself with the Baptist Church as soon
as he had the opportunity.
The old gentleman asked where we were
from, and when he told him he said he re-
membered having been in Staunton in 1872.
He was then soldier with his company
en- route for the scenes of war. He had not
forgotten the kindness with which he and
his companions were treated by the citizens
OF the village, and spoke OF a grand barba-
cue which had been given to his company
by a gentleman living near Stannton whose
name he did not recollect. He was also in
a yynr Of n nf
ty-fve, and while in Mexico was sick for
The first and only time in his life. with yellow
lever. For some reason or other the old
man has never received his pension and his
business in Lebanon that day was to see a
gentleman who had promised, if possible, to
secure it for him.
On our return to Abingdon, the following
lay, he came with us back to his home, and
IS we babe him goodbye at the gate Of his
humble abode, we thought it more than
probable that the next journey he would
axe would be ssto that bourne whence no
raveler returns"
In Scott County we heard OF another case OF
ongevity almost as remarkable..as that of Mr..
rankin. Near Estelleville, the county seat,
here lives Mr.. Charles Arlington. an
red and first year. He celebrated the
october on which occasion he invited to his
ome all of his descendants from far and near.
III came except one family. and there
we're present children of five generations,
rom the gray-haired sire of seventy-fve,
own to the babe in its mothers arms-in
z four hundred and eighty. We did not
ear the number of deaths that had occurred
mong hrs 4vmerous progeny. Mr.. Adding
On has been married three times-the first
me when he was twenty-five years old,and
ne last when at the age Of ninety-three to
oman of forty. 1t is time-honored Gus
IN with.him to take regularly an ante.h,reak-
lst dram. He can read without the use -
)ectacles, has sound teeth and can hear as
ell as he ever could. Horseback riding is
is favorite exercise and he rides about
herever he wishes to go. He is still hale
I'D hearty and bids fair to add at least an {
her half-sc0re years to the century that t
IS already passed over his head.
VERTTAS.