Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-27
The Smart Old Men Of France
lward Kings Paris Letter in Boston Journal.

Edward Kings Paris Letter in Boston Journal
Baron de Lesseps is back from his journey in
the east, and looks bit fatigued by it. Some
persons have acquired so much the habit of saw
ing that he looks perennialiy young that they
say it on all occasions. The truth is that he
seems feeble and fatigued. Still there is no
reason to suppose that he may not live to see
his Panama canal finished, and maybe score of
years thereafter, for ripe old ages here are the
rule rather than the exception. Only few
days ago the united agriculturSts gave a
festival In honor of worthy member of
most OF their societies. member who had
attained the age of 81. and seemed likely
to go up to the hundred without any par
tlcular trouble. | noted almost as strik ing
an instance of longevity one evening i'm the
case OF venerable man who came into the par
lor OF house where was at dinner Hearing
that some one had been shown into the salon
Whiie the company was still dining. the host
sent the servant to see who it was, and she re-
turned saying that it was ''Old Father K" The
hest laughed. ''Get a chair for him." he said.
land he must have some of the pudding and a
glass of dessert wine" So there came i'm a
WrInkled parsonage who could not have been
less than s., il he was a day old. He saluted as
gracefully as il he had been 80 and while he
joined In the dessert, he remarked that it was
pleasant to see such good things to eat, for he
had not seen many of them lately. "How is
that. Mr.. X?" inquired the master of the
house. thought your old cook, who has
been with you SO many years, was re-
nowned for her exeellence?" "Oh, yes! but the
government, you see, won't let me alone. and
keeps me trotting about the country districts
organizing primary schools. think shall have
organized as many as 5000 by the close of next
week. It's rough work; l have to 90 to the
peasants houses, get very plain food and
put up with poor beds-travel nights in
country wagons, etc. But think it keeps up
my health" And he did really look infinitely
better tit for the most trying of all labOrs than
the young dandies of the boulevard appear As
We LEFT the table the host said that the patri-
arch had been celebrity as long ago as 1910,
ana. although he had uutlved his political rep
utation, had certainly not lived longer than
ne was useful And then, the activity OF
Lesseps is as nothing compared to that of the
aged Hugo. On Sunday night Of next week
there is to be a supper at the Grand hotel in
honor OF the Tooth representation of Ninety
three" Cthe play taken from the poets striking.
almost grandiOse sketch-fOr it can scarcely be
called novel; the Gaiety. There will be
numerous company of brilliant actresses and
most OF the leading literary menOf the capital
Such suppers invariably begin at midnight
Now do you fancy that Victor Hugo will hesi-
tate TO go there because he happens to be in his
olst year? Not at all. He will very probably
walk down there, If the night is fine. from his
house. which is at least two miles away; after
supper he may go earlier than the others, but
ne VIII be at work at z. Now what is the secret
OF the splendid health Of these men? They treat
their stomachs as II they were sacred; thew
never eat nor do they by accident drink that
which Is not good for them.