Omaha daily bee., 1889-08-05
is HE THE OLDEST LIVING MAN.
Macy Ference, a Hungarian Peasant,
Born 121 Years Ago

The oldest man in the civilized world,
it may be said with reasonable safety, is
Macy Ference, peasant in Barcs, Hun
gary. He was born in Hedrahely 121
years ago next September. 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 century ago. His father re-
garded him with disfavor because he
was too weak to do more than peasant
woman's work, and did not earn enough
to pay for his food. AT the age of nlne-
teen, however, Macy suddenly devel-
oped into a pnonomenally muscular
man. His chest widened. his arms and
legs hardened, and his girth increased.
He became q famous local wrestler, and
did more work in II day than most peas
ants near Hedrahely did in two.
just 100 years ago last May he fell In
love with the daughter of an innkeeper.
She promised to marry him July 81,
day she Tilted him for his best friend.
Since then Macy has been a woman
hater. He never loved another woman.
Four years later he went to the war
of the first coalition. For the succeed
ing twenty Jears he was almost con-
stantly under arms, IN camp or on the
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 at Aspern,
and he did his best to save the Austrians
from defeat at Wagram. The second
day of the battle at Leipsic he got II
bullet in his leg and three more in his
l,t 10 hn l,tiy 81
times. He saw Napoleon once and
Blucher once.
Nagy's boyhood, says the New York
Sun, was lived long before the days Of
compulsory education, so he never
learned to keep a diary or write me-
moirs. He has an immense fund of
anecdote, however, which is at the
service of any one with half hour to
spare at Barcs. The children of the
town have heard from him every week
for many years the stories OF the famous
charges, retreats, sieges and campaigns
in which he has participated. The
his attendance at the funeral of his
dead queen, Maria Theresa, 100 years
ago. Although but twelve then, he has
treasured up for more than century
every detail of the procession and
burial.
Macy Ference is penniless, but he is
| not Il beggar nor a 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 entertaius him
one day in the week. Between meals
! he walks from house to house, chattin g
| with all the men and children whom he
meets. He rarely talks with women, for
he has not forgotten that young woman
| who Tilted MIN one century ago this
month. After each meal he smokes a
| pipeful Of strong tobacco. He has been
smoking three pipestul of strong to-
bacco every day for lO4 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, amiable 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 as he is.
He has clear, dark eyes, clean cut, reg
ular features. and smooth, bronzed
skin. He has bushy head of white
hair and heavy white mustache. He
is erect and quick in his movements.
He is scrupdlously neat in his person.
| He looks to be about seventy or seventy
! five years old.