Bridgeton pioneer., 1892-05-12
WHOLE NO. 2297

| Recently a letter was received from
a scientist and well known writer, of
| Washington, d. c., asking the Doctor
Ii ne had followed any rule of living
to which be attributed his longevity.
As matter OF fact the Doctor has not.
de has always been prudent man,
OF temperate habits, hearty eater.
and sound sleeper. He has not known
serious illness in all his life. He was
| asked the other day If he felt capable
of prescribing for himself as a physi-
| clan If he needed assistance, and his
reply was in the negative, as he claims
the practice of medicine has so chang
ed that he knows very little about il
In these days, although in his time he
was most earnest student, and in
many branches, WAS far in advance of
his professional brethren.
Even now, with the weight of one
hundred years of life upon his should
ers, DIR. Fithian enjoys an excellent
appetite and eats his full share of the
usual solids found upon the average
table. Particularly fond is he of fresh
fish, which he enjoys very often.
Pages might be written of this aged
man, of his life, of his experiences, his
deeds of good, his kindness and benefi-
cence, OF what he has seen; of the
great men he has known, whom to Us
are only figures of history; of the
wonderful changes which he has seen
as they came, and marveIed at as they
went on to perfection; of the many
who have gone on to the great beyond
and their mortal bodies added one
more to the inhabitants of the citadel
of the dead; of those who assisted in
the celebration of earlier birthday an
niversaries, whom ne will never meet
again until the end. Yes, all this and
more could be written, and the vener-
able physician living to read it. 1t is
q remarkable man whom yesterday
the people generally honored in a re.
markable centennial celebration of a
long and useful life.
SOCIAL HABITS.
The social habits of DR.. Fithian, and
Incidents of domestic entertainment
have more than momentary interest.
He Is man of wonderful memory, and
even in the advanced years of his great
age, he has been able to pleasantly en-
tertain a company of friends. Always
beautiful reader, lover of poetry,
and fond OF reclting it, he could add
much to the enjoyment of an after
noon party.
A year and a half ago he recited, off
hano, large number of Cowper's
poems, and last Christmas, in speaking
with some visitors, relatives, he said,
"The delights of friendship, the inter-
course OF friends is indeed most beau
tlful, and then he Immediately re-
aIfad q Etflo
ship" and afterward another poem of
the same character which was a fav.
orite with his brother Philip wears ago.
Hymn after hymn of DIR. Watts he
would repeat with out halt. sGrey,s
Elegy" he often repeats without the
loss OF a syllable, and only few
months ago he repeated the whole of
Scott's Lady of the Lake,
When reoiting he usually PAGES up
and down the floor.
DIR. Fithian was gentleman of the
old school of pollteness. and even at
this day, receives eacn guest standing:
TO the ladies he is gallant, and never
leaves the parlor or sitting room for
the festive board, when he has lady
visitors, without offering his arm to
the most honored guest.
"A ioW udys ago ue was speaking or
the Tooth birthday which was ap-
preaching, and said when asked, s'yes,
l shall be hundred years old in so
many days more if | live," giving the
correct number OF days it was off.
When asked if he d i not expect a good
many visitors ~ day he replied
"a good many People will come here
to see me. They don't care anything
about me though; they will come to
see how look, and how will act and
hear what I will say. They don't come
because they care for me, only to see
how look at hundred years DID,"
DR.. Fithian went out to visit the late
Michael Potter, of Willow Grove, the
week that Mr.. Potter was a hundred
years old. He said he wanted to see
him but he did not want to go on his
birthday. This was few years ago,