Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-03-19
NEW VOL. l6---N0. 81.
PETER COOPER's NINETIETlI
BIRTHDAY.
TIE VENERABLE PHILANrIRoPIsTT Tells
The SToRY OF his LIFE.

Peter Cooper spent the day yesterday
surrounded by his family, at lis home;
corner of Lexington avenue aud Twen.
ty-second street lie rose early, as usual,
and throughout the day received many
concentrations from relatives and
friends. The house was filed with the
odor of flowers. In the afternoon the
reporter was granted al interview on
the condition, imposed by Mr.. Cooper's
kindly guardian, his daughter, Mrs.
Hewitt, that it should last only eight
minutes. Mr.. Cooper seemed in excel
lent health aud joyisl spirits. His face
was beaming with benignant smiles.
He seated himself in his favorite easy
clair, aud asked what he could do for
the Suh.
First, tell me how you managed TO
live so long; what advice would you
give TO young people TO help them TO
live TO be ninety ??
II should pat il in two words, live
soberly and righteously, said MIR, Coop
er.
When asked 10 amplify little on
those words Nj. Cooper added; "One
of the best lessons ever got was from
one OF the oldest records OF human
events, where ! find that man is the
offspring Of the Infinite Power which
has given him the world, with all HAT
in ii is, TO be rightly enjoyed. II is on
" required OF man that he should keep
il aud subdue it. | understand by that
that the Infinite Power gives US all that
is in the garden TO eat, TO drink, 10
work, and to play. We are required not
TO eat too much, mol TO drink too much,
nor TO work too much, nor 10 play too
! much. When a man eats too much he
appears like the Prodgal Son, who took
all his portion Of the loayes and fishes
and went and spent il in rio,ous living
and among harots. lie thus got into
dcplorable state, and would fan have
! partaken OF the husks tina, the swine
did eat That reminds me that mans
very wretchedncss will bring him TO
himself. His sufcrngs will teach him
that he had done wrong. When the
Plodigal son returned to his father he
was humble, and thought that persd-
venture his father would make him one
of his hired servants. but he did not
find his father harsh and unlorgi,ing.
His father did not say, you rascal, why
have you been wasting my substance
No; lis father welcomed him, saying,
This is my son, who was dead and is
alive again" lie called his people aud
killed the fatted calf, and gave the prod
igal welcome that even offended the
son who had not gone from home. l
infer from tLis that we are living here
OH earth under beautiful and beDehcent
laws-laws designed in Infinite wisdom
for the elevation OF mankind. infer
that just in proportion as we live in
obedience TO those laws we shall have
health and comfort. II we dIsobey
those laws we shall pay the penalty.
That rule holds good for man, or city,
or community, or State or nation. The
penalty of disobedience must be paid
somewhere, somehow, or at some time
"One more question, Mr.. Cooper.
How did you get rich7"
"In the first place | learned three
trades. learned 10 be brewer,
coachnaker, and macbinist-all be-
fore | was twenty-one years old. /
worked three years at $3.50 day, and
| saved enough out of that to get n
start in life. / was making machines
to shear cloth. Then ! bought the pa
tent-rigbt OF the machine and made
them Tor sale. That was before the war
of 1872"
"What general rule have you adopted
in business?" was asked.
"One was that determined 10 give
the world an equivalent in some form
of useful labor Tor all that ! consumed
in it. went on aud enlarged my bust
ness, all the while keeping out of debt.
I cannot recollect time when j could
not pay what ] owed any day. Iwould
not spend money before / earned il.
Another rule | bad was TO keep clear Of
the banks. ] never asked them tor nc
commodation. never got them 10
discount notes, because did not wish
to incur an obligation without GER
tanty Of being able 10 pay it. Iu that
way ! managed TO keep clear Of pancs.
Ny rule was pay as you go. j cant
remember the time when any man
could not have had for the asking what
! owed. Another thing ] wish TO say
All the money ever made was IN me-
chanical business, aud not in specula-
ton. "-Ntw York Sun.
T,.c,,,v ,,,r,, Rou,Hcy II ast