The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17
go to work. and / find that this generally

One of the youngest old men in Wash
ington City is Representative Vaux, or
Pennsylvania. He dresses and acts like
the old-tirne gentleman, and he wears the
same style of pumps now as he had on
when he danced before Queen Victoria,
nearly two generations ago. At seventy
four he is one of the most industrious men
in public life, and he looks upon himself
as being in his mental and physical prime.
Said he to me last night "a man ought
to begin TO ripen at 50, and his prime OF
physical and mental condition should be-
between % and 20. am a., and have
never felt stronger in mind or body than
do now"
THAT is new idea, Mr. Vaux," said I.
"The prime of most men seems to be be-
tween 80 and go, and would like 10 know
to what you ascribe your remarks bic work
ing powers and health at time OF life
when many men are feeble2"
II suppose" SAID he lit is due largely
to constitution and, in minor degree, to
my habits. ] am regular as to my eating,
drinking and sleeping. sleep eight hours
every night, and go TO bed at 8 and get up
at ). have cold bath ready for me, and
jump into my tub soon as get out of
bed. ] then rub myself dry, dress and
take walk of one to five miles,
and am back at the hotel in
time for breakfast Just now | start
y
that this morning walk is enough to keep
my body in good condition. As to my
eating, do not take great deal OF food
and ] eat everything that | like. AS to
drinking, believe that whisky is the basis
of all good liquors and coniine myself to
it, | take II straight and like it. | have
always been a smoker and do not see that
it hurts me, and consume on the average
about twenty cigars day. ! spend seven
months Of the year in the country and five
in the city. l don't worry to any great ex-
tent. | am Trinitarian Christian, and L
believe every word that is between the
lids of the Bible | believe it to be the
word of God Almighty and | don't think
il isn't true just because j cannot under
stand it.
TWO QUEER OLD BROTHERS.
81 don't think you can lay out any rule
of life which will produce longevity. What
is one mans drink is another mans
poison, and we inherit our bodies and souls
from our ancestors. The best looking man
may have the seeds of disease lurking
within the finest physique, and sickness
like that of the grip, something which can
not be seen, will take him off like fash.
heard most curious incident related
concerning trial in the superior court at
Philadelphia about thirty years ago. Two
old men were among the witnesses The
hair of both was rs white as snow, but
their skins were clear, their eyes were
bright and their steps steady. The
Judge on the bench, who was student
of longevity asked the first OF these how
old he was. He replied that he was 80.
He then asked him as to his habits, and
the old man replied that he had been a
smoker all his life, and that he had never
gone to bed sober when he had enough
money to become intoxicated. He said be
was in good physical condition and that
he knew no reason for bis long life. The
second witness then took the stand, and
the Judge, in the course of the examination,
put the same questions to him. He re-
Piled that he was just two years younger
than the other witness, who was his
brother, but that he had never used to-
bacco in any form and bad never touched
drop of liquor in his lite. Now, here
were two men, the offspring of the same
father and mother, who had both lived TO
this age under such totally different con-
ditions. 1t might be that the drinking
and smoking would have killed the
Younger man. The coincidence proves
nothing and il goes to show that, after all,
old age is more matter OF constitution
than of habit"
NOTED EXPRESSIONS FROM NOTED MEN.
During the past few months l have re-
ceived a number of letters on longevity
frum some of the bright old men away
from Washington City. / can only give
some of the more brief replies in this let
ter. NV first is from General Jubal a.
Early. He is now "a years old, but he
| saws he can see no particulars reasons for
being in the excellent health that he is.
| MY letter from him comes from Lynch
| burg, Va, and it is as follows:
Sir: My life has been such variegated one.
| that cannot say TO what owe the preservation
| of my health, unless IL be to naturally strong
| constitution. ! have fixed habits OF work,
exercise sleep diet. As 10 the effect that mar
| rage may have on the length of life am unable
| to give any opinion from experiences, as l have
| never experimental in that line. You must,
therefore, look 10 some other quarter for the in
| formation you are seeking Respectfully,
J. A. EARLY.
Another rather unsatisfactory note
| comes to me from Mr.. Porter, who was
until very few years ago president of
Yale college. He graduated at y ale when
| Andrew Jackson was president, ana he is
now past fouTscore. He has been one or
| the leading scholars and hardest workers
| of the country for more than two genera
| tions, and now he is as healthy as child,
| with the exception that lie Is unable TO
write. The following was penned III q
| cramped hand, and it is interesting.
! M Dear Sir: II viii be impossible for me
| to comply with your request. Although free
| from the disabilities of old age, ] am disabled
! from using my pen with comfort freedom.
| ] feel hampered and annoyed by this vexatious
/ limitation, but am Obliged to submit, and I
| must therefore ask you to accept my excuse,
and to allow me to subscribe myself, yours
/ truly, NOAH PORTER
| HONORABLE HARVEY wATTERsoN AND HIS
| PHILOSOPHY
! One of the brightest members of con-
gress fifty years ago was the Hon. Harvey
| Watterson, and one OF the brightest old
! Young men have ever met is this same
| Mr. Harvey NJ. Watterson today. He 10
! thoroughly up with the times and is as
] young in his thoughts and actions today
| as he was when President Harrison's
| grandfather was in the White House, and
upon my asking him one day as to what
| he attributed his wonderful good health
| and good spirits, he replied:
We'll one thing that has conduced to
| my long living is the fact that whenever
| have stubbed my toe | have not hurt my
self mourning about il, but have gone on,
| thanking God that | did not fail down
! and break Ely head"
wrote Mr.. Watterson a short time ago
! and asked him TO give me his advice rs TO
| longevity. Here is his reply;
My Dear sir: You are pleased 10 ssy that
| am the youngest old man you know, and wish
20 get an expression from me TO the secrets Of
long life Thanks 20 the Great author OF my
| being lie gave me sound robust constitution,
/ and q cain paiiosophic temper. fl any man
have had my Gisaprcintlaenis, but ! never cried
/ or swoFe over split milk. TO this happy faculty
] attribute in small degree my preservation.
! Men have been Known 70 tret themselves to
| death | shall never die from worry. again,
/ have always been q temperate eater NJ opin-
-a.llt r.