National Republican., 1883-03-19
ALMOST ONE HUNDRED.
An old Man who Doctors with n Fife
and Drum sticlxs--A Few Rules which,
if Followed, VIII Lead 10 Longevity.


and Drum stichs-A Few Rules which,
if Followed, VIII Lead to Longevity.
Cere'and Leader.
"That's a part of my medicine" said n
little old man, who had bright blue eyes and u
tough weather beaten skin, to Leoder rep
resentativc, as he slowly hauled out of his
pocket an old time fife that was also weather
beaten and old. "Nlore than fifty years ago
had an affection of tho lungs. commenced
to play on the fife, and | haven't
been troubled that way since. 1tsvreat
medicine if used properly" and he lovingly
placed the health giving instruments in his
pocket. lie looked as if he might have Kept
himself reduced by blowing off superfuous
flesh through the musical reed, and it had
left him hard and wiry. II was Peter Kim
ball, who has been on this mundane sphere
for almost century He was born in the
town of Boscawcn, New Hampshire, on the
Morrimac, March s. 1893, last Sunday being
his ninetieth birthday. He was six years old
when he heard the
MoURNFUL TOLL OF THE BELLS
that announced tho death of Washington, and
he says that he rocolects that it made him
feel very sad. His career has been q very
chequered one. He received good education
and at comparatively early age ho'was in
much broken in health by fast living when
was young but l mcndcd my ways by not
gratifying any abnormal appetite, and1 have
found THAT my last years have been the hap.
piest." Mr.. Kimball carries a small book
written by Lewis Cornnro, Of Venice which
he purchased in 1896, and which he lays great
store by. 1t treats of how that nobloman q
life was prolonged. At the age of thirty-fv
he was broken down in health through riot
Gus living, but mcndcd his ways and at the
age of ninety-tivo was as strong as ut twenty
five. He lived to be upward of one hundred
years old, and Mr.. Kimball says that as the
work has done him incalculablc good, he is
thinking of having 1t republishod for the
good Of humanity in general Any man
may live to good old age" said he, land
enjoy the blessings God has given us, If he
will not allow himself to fall n victim to un
natural appetite He must not use tobacco,
rum, opium, nor any of the evil things cravcd
by an abnormal taste; then, with Il proper
and judicous use of the things provided by
and the world, and be better prepared to enjoy
the
PLEASURES OF THE LIFE TO COME"
In May, $780, Mr.. Kimball first came to
northern Ohio from western New York as
q preacher of the Presbyterian church.
Preaching then was not such an elaborate
thing as it now is. 1t was simple present
alton of the truth. l did not know then as
much as / do now, and / feel as though !
have not accomplished enough good. did
not stay long in northern Ohio at that time,
but went to Washington county, whore l. did
something toward assisting in laying the
| foundation of Marietta college. Icould make
more money at teaching than | could at
preaching, as a preacher in those days was
thought TO be doing well at u salary of $40C
per year; but felt it my duty to preach, al
though felt as though L did not know how
| to preach as ought.
81 went to Illinois in 1856 with the expect.
alton of making that state my home, but
made failure of my plans, and turned my
attention to cultivating the soil. had some
heart affection in 1859; and felt that would
not live year. l found that walking did
me good and with the flute and regular habits
| was soon strong as ever and have not been
| troubled that way since. During the war
went to Columbus, Ohio, where the captain Of
the Springfield Guards wanted me to 90 with
| them and play the fife. L was finally per-
suaded to do so, and it did me more good than
any medicine could have done.
THE USE OF DRUM STICKS
also helped me greatly.
az am now working discovery that
made about six years ago. 1t is to regulate
the bearing of apple trees, | can SO regqMtc
| the sap that one portion of the tree can bC
made to bear bountifully while the otherdoef
not blossom. Or the trees can made To bear
alternate seasons. The process is patented
and it has been wonderful success where
ever / have tried it. / have travelled extern
sivcly over six counties in northern Qhit
since April 1880, and have walked about SOC
miles in that time, and l expect in a short
time to make Cleveland my permanent home.N
The old gentleman was as lively as u cricket
as he related his experiences, and gave evi
dence of an unimpaired intellect, for all il
has been in such constant use for ninety
years. After giving few words of advice
| to those who had been listening to him, ire.
questing them to leave off the use of tobacco
and to eschew all unnatural appetite, hC
bowed himself out as calamity as n young
man of thirty.