Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-07-15
Is HE THE OLDEST LIVING MAN,
Macy Ference, a Hungarian Peasant
Who Was Born 121 Years Ago.

Macy Ference, a Hungarian Peasant
Who Was Born 121 Years Ago.
The oldest man in the civilized worlc
1t may be said with reasonable safety,
Is Macy Ference, a peasant in Barcs,
Hungary. He was born in Hedrahely
l2l years ago next September. He
passed his boyhood on the little farm
of his parents. He was not an espe-
cially 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 regarded him with disf, vor,
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 19, however, Macy sud-
denly developed into u phenomenally
muscular man. His chest widened,
his arms and legs hardened, and his
girth increased. He became a famous
local wrestler, and did more work in
day than most peasants near Hedrahely
did in two.
Just 100 years ago last May ne fell
in love with the daughter of an inn
keeper. She promised to marry him
on July 81, 1880. Two days before
the marriage day she Tilted him for his
best friend. Since then, Macy has been
a woman hater. He never loved an
other woman.
Nagy's 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
f,1pI of a,,a,In+a IL. Il =,
at the service of any one with a 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 partici-
pated. The great event of his life, he
thinks, was his attendance at the fun
eral of his dead Queen, Maria Theresa
109 years ago. Although but twelve
years old then, he has treasured up for
more than a century every detail of
the procession and burial.
Naggy Ference is penniless, but he
Is not beggar nor a public charge.
y score or more of families i'll 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 enter
tains him one day III the week. Be
tween meals he walks from house to
house, chatting with all men and child
rem whom he meets. He rarely talks
with women, for he has not forgotten
that young woman who Tilted him one
century ago this month. After each
meal he smokes a pipeful of strong
tobacco. He has been smoking three
pipefuls of strong tobacco every aly
for the last lO4 years. He is fond OF
his wine and an occasional beer. The
friends with whom he dimes give him
every day ten cents with which to buy
tobacco and liquor.
Altogether Macy Ference is sturdy,
contented aimable 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 well and happy as he is,
He has clear dark eyes, clean-cut regu-
lar features, and smooth bronzed skin
He has bushy head of white hair and
a heavy white mustache. He is erect
and quick in his movements. He Is
scrupulously neat in his person. He
looks to be about seventy or seventy
five years old.