Idaho semi-weekly world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1875-1908, 1889-10-08
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OLDEST MAN ALIVE.


An Hungarfsn Peasant who w.s Bora in
the Ys.r I7as,
The Oldest man In the civilized world,
it may be said with reasonable safety.
IL Macy Ference, peasant In Barcs,
Hungary. He was born in Hedraheiy.
III years ago He passed Ills boyhood
on the little farm Of his parenta 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 q
century ago His father regarded him
with disfavor because he was too weak
TO do more than pc SAINT woman
work. and did not earn enough to pay
for his food At the age Of nineteen.
however. Macy su denly developed i'm
t. a phenomenally muscular man His
chest widened. his arms and legs hard
encd. and his girtf increased He be-
came a fam su- local wrestler. and did
more worx In day than most peas tnts
near Hedrahely did ia two
just one hundred years ago last May
he fell 10 love with the daughter 81 IN
inn-xeeper. She promised 10 marry
him on July 81. 1873 Two days before
the wedding day she Tilted him for his
best friend Since then Macy has been
a wornan-hater. He never loy,d an
| other woman
| Four years later he went TO the war
+! VI tie first coalition. For the twenty
| succeeding years he was almost con-
| SANITY under arms. In camp or on the
| battlefield. He was one Of the victors
| under Archduxe Carl Of Austria at
| Netzlar. and one Of the vanqaished at
| Marengo and Hohenlinlea- H. helped
| the Archduke win the victory OF As
| perm. and he did his best To save the
| Austria,s from defeat at Wagram- On
the second day OF the battle al Leipsic
| re got a bullet in his leg and three
| more In his hat He saw the Archduxe
| Carl many times. He saw Napoleon
| once and Butcher once
| Macy boyhood Was liy long be-
lore the days Of compulsory education.
30 he never learned to keep diary or
write memoirs. He has an immense
fund OF anecdote. however. which is al
the service Of any one with half hour
0 spare ut Ba-cs The children of the
| town have heard from him every wees
for many years the stores Of the ia
nous charges, retreats, sieges and
campaigns in which he has partici
ipated. the great eve Of his life. he
thin IS, was his attendance OF the funera
OF his dead Queen Marit Theresa. 10.
years ago. Although but twelve year.
old then. he has treasured up for more
than a century every detail OF the pro
cession and burial.
Macy Ference is penniless. but he i.
not a beggar nor public charge. 4
score or more of families in Barcs are
eady To give him cd clothing AM
shelter. He takes ali his meals witt
seven families. whom he has known To-
fifty yeas Each one eniertains hin
5ne dag in the geez- Between meal
ne walks from house to house, c.attin!
with all the men and children whom h
meets. He rarely talks with women
for he has not forgotten that one yousI,
woman who Tilted him one century ag
this month. After each meal he smoke
pipeful Of strong tobacco. He Ia
been smoking three pipefuls OF stroni
tobacco every day for the last 10
| fears- He is fond Of his wine and Al
occasional beer. The fri nds with whor
re dimes give him every day 10 CEN
with which to buy tobacco and liquos
Altogether Macy Ference is a sturd =
, ;ontented, amiabIe old man H
leaIth Is good lis mind is fairl
lear He has plenty of friends and al
he money he wants for smoking an
: | irinking. He LOOKS as we'll and happ
IS ne is. He has clear. dark eyes
,ieau-eut. regular features. and
,nootn bronze skin. Ee has bush
iead of white hair and heavy whit
nus ache. He is erect and quick in Ii
movements, He IS scrupulously nea
his person. He LOOKS TO be 20 or I
| ears old-N. Y Herald