Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-10

Regularity i'm Whatever YOu No.
whether Eating. Drinking or Abb
stinence-WhO Discover the Secret Of
Long Life.

mere CHANGED to meet not long since in a
quiet Connecticut town three remarkably old
men, They were all nonagenarian. Their walk
was erect and appetite good. After hearty old
country hotel dinner remarkable as well for
quantity as quality Of the cooking. they seated
themselves on the hotel porch together (crea-
ture comforts always make US wonderOus kind),
and fell into conversation as to their respective
careers of good health. when each in turn
agreed to give his reasons. The first gentle
man. who had stern cOuntenance and wore a
wide cravat, said: II am
CLERGYMAN.
and attribute my good health at the advanced
age OF rinety-fOur, and the limit of the Good
Book is only three score and ten, to my strict
temperance, never using alcoholic drinks, never
smoking. and. perhaps, / will astonish you with
the fact that never drank a cup of coffee in nv
life. My diet has been plain sometimes a cup
of tea at supper. but generally have lived upon
mllk-and-water diet; have used meat only
once day. living largely upon vegetables. My
hours of retiring have been early, at from nine
to ten. While have led the sedentary life of a
country clergyman have taken exercise every
day. working in my garden. and never neg
lected, unless the weather was too inciement
walking at least a mile or two"
The other two listened eagerly, and when the
clergyman had concluded one of the others, who
had been all the while leisurely putting fra
grant Havana, which he removed, and blew the
curling rings alOtt, and a smile wreathing his
full. red countenance. said:
well. L agree with my reverend friend in
many things which he has said. but have been
constant user of good liquors and good to-
baccos since my bOyhOOd, following, however,
one rule, never to drink anything on an empty
stomach but a glass of cold water. l am Of
Irish descent, and that 1 learned from my
people. My habits of life have been to take
after breakfast good drink to aid digestion,
and sitting easily in my armchair to enjoy
smoke and allow no business to tempt me to
move about until digestion had well advanced.
Then never took more than one more drink
before dinner. At dinner have made it a rule
to have wine, of which partook sparingly but
regularly"
Theeountenance of the clergyman grew longer,
and What them"
Taking fresh sniff of his cigar. ''Then al
ways took nap After l woke up in summer
sat in the shade and drank mint juleps. perhaps
three before supper"
You didn't drink anything at supper?" said
the clergyman.
swell. no: but made It rule never to 90 to
bed, which do about ten o'clock, without hot
Scotch In winter and perhaps julep or tOddy
In summer. and you can be assured that my
sleep has always been sound, and that of the
just, and my digestion perfect, and habits all
regular. have hunted and fished and ridden
horseback, and eaten always generously, and
still continue to do the same"
''And what has your business been 2" queried
the Reverend.
Before the war was planter in Virginia,
SIR
The speaker resumed his cigar and the ewes
Of both turned toward the third who quietly
sat listening, and now that his turn came round,
said:
my experience is somewhat different from
both that of the clergyman and the gentleman
who has just concluded. except in one thing,
and that is regularity. During a portion of my
life my means were stinted, and then followed
old Franklin's rule. Early to bed and early to
rise will make man healthy, wealthy and
wise My work was hard. my food coarse, be-
cause my means were narrow. However as |
grew older and began to amass money lived
better For forty years of my life never
drank or smoked. Then, when had the
means. / procured good liquors, good cigars.
never using them to excess. but have been reg
ular in the last fifty years in taking a nightcap
before bedtime. l have always eaten three
meals day, and at regular hours. l have lat
terly studied and read good deal. which did
omnivorously, always going to bed, however,
not later than 10 o'clock"
The shrek of the locomotive was heard, and
the landlord appeared.
"Gentlemen, that's your train," and the three
nOnagenarians walked OFT as vigorously as three
men in the prime of life
They were vigorous when almost gentleman
ians, because they had been regular in their
habits Regularity was the secret of their
longevity.