Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-11-15
OLDEST MAN ALIVE.
An Hungarian Peasant Who Was Born In
the Year 4 68.

the Year 1868.
The Oldest man in the civilized world,
1t may be said with reasonable safety,
is Macy Ference, peasant in Barcs,
Hungary He was bora in Hedrahely.
l2l years ago. He passed his boyhood
on the little farm of his parents. He
was not an especially robust child. He
could not haul and split wood, pitch
hay, and tame colts, as could his three
strapping brothers, who died half a
century ago. His father regarded him
with disfavor because he was too weak
TO do more than a peasant woman )
work, and did not earn enough to pay
for his food. At the age of nineteen,
however, Macy suddenly developed in
to a phenomenally muscular man. His
chest widened, his arms and legs hard
ened, and his girth increased. He be-
came a famous local wrestler, and did
more work in a day than most peasants
near Hedrahely did in two.
just one hundred years ago last May
he fell in love with the daughter OF an
inn-keeper She promised to marry
him on July 81, 1889. Two days before
the wedding day she Tilted him for his
best friend. Since then Macy has been
woman-hater. He never loved an
other woman.
Four years later he went to the war
Of the first coalition. For the twenty
succeeding years he was almost con-
sfontlt- ttp1nr in he.
battlefield. He was one OF the victors
under Archduke Carl Of Austria at
Wetzlar, and one of the vanquished at
Marengo and Hohenlinden. He helped
the Archduke win the victory of AS
perm, and he did his best TO save the
Austrians from defeat at Wagram. On
the second day OF tho battle at Leipsic
he got bullet in his leg and three
more in his hat He saw the Archduko
Carl many times He saw Napoleon
once and Butcher once.
Mays boyhood was lived long be-
fore the days OF compulsory education.
so he never learned TO keep a diary or
write memoirs. He has an immense
fund Of anecdote. however, which is at
the service of any one with half hour
10 spare at Barcs. The children of the
town have heard from him every week
for many years the stories of the ia
nous charges, retreats, sieges and
campaigns in which he has partici-
pated. The great event of his life. he
thinks, was mis- attendance of the funeral
of his dead Queen Maria Theresa, 100
years ago. Although but twelve years
old then, he has treasured up for more
than century every detail of the pro-
cession and burial.
Macy Ference is penniess. but he is
not beggar nor Il public charge A
score or more OF families in Barcs are
ready to give him food clothing and
shelter. He takes all his meals with
seven families, whom he has known for
fifty years. Each one entertains him
one day in the week. Between meals
he walks from house to house, chatting
with all the mon and children whom he
meets. lie rarely talks with women,
for he has not forgotten that one young
"ohhh WIZ ylitcu nun one century ago
this month. After each meal he smokes
pipeful of strong tobacco. lie has
been smoking three pipefuls of strong
tobacco every day for the last lOi
years. He is fond OF his wine and an
occasional beer. The friends with whom
he dimes give him every day 10 cents
with which to buy tobacco and liquor
Altogether Macy Ference is a sturdy,
contented, amiablc old man. His
health is good His mind is fairly
clear. He has plenty of friends and all
the money he wants for smoking and
drinking. He looks as we'll and happy
rs he is. He has clear, dark eyes.
clean-cut. regular features. and
smooth bronze SKIN. He has a bushy
head of white hair and heavy white
He is erect and quick in his
movements. He is scrupuously neat
in his person. He looks to 10 20 or rs
years OLD. N. Y. Herald.