The herald., 1893-01-30
LONGEVITY IN OUR PUBLIC MEN.

the ranks of our distinguished men.
The desth of Ben Butter revealed a ca
rious TACT, and that is that all his organs
were in state OF perfect preservation
when he died. His de ath was owing to
the rupture Of small blood vessel of
the brain, produced by a fit of excessive
coughing. The physicians state that
but for this accident Butler would have
probably lived for many years yet. His
age has not been correctly stated by his
biographsrs. He always had an idea
that he would be struck by the presi-
Dental ligh thing some day, and he
dropped about ten years from his roster
to asset his presidential boom, which
became smaller by degrees and beauti-
fully less. In country like Southern
California Butler would have lived to be
hundred Away back in 184S-45 years
sgo-he was the Democratic candidate
for governor of Mass achusetts. In those
days they never nominated young man
for that otiice, which the people of the
Bay state looked upon as more exalted
than the presidency itself. The strabis-
mic Benjamin was ninety, or near 1t.
Curiously en- ough, he was the Democratic
candidate for governor OF Massachusetts
in 1860, and he was nominated to that
Office after he had voted for Jefferson
Davis iorty-fve times in the Charleston
convention.
1t is pie ssant to look around and find
instances of hale old men in the midst
OF the iearfully swollen neurological roll,
which has been lately enlarged by the
death OF such compar atively young men
as Rutherford B. Hayes, James G.
laine and Mr.. Justice Lamar, all Of
whom ordinarily would have had years
of usefulness before them. In the last
number OF the North American Review
there was an article on the relations Of
capital and labor by Mr.. David Dudley
Field. Il is written with great grace
and spirit. Mr. Field is quite ninety
years of sge, and time has in no sense
blunted his acumen and intellectual
virility. His style is as clear as crystal
mountain stream flowing over o grants
/
man, physically and mentally. He was
always noted for the great amount OF
exercise he took and for his devotion to
the bath. No more perfect example ex-
lists in the United States OF "a sound
mind in sound body" that happy
conjunction OF the Latin sphorism. lie
belongs to rem AT kable family. A sue
cession Of monumental misiortunss
broke down the vitality OF his brother
Cyrus ". Field, but Mr.. Justice Field
gives every evidence OF rivaling his
eldest brother in vitali ty and longevity
while the Rev. lie nry NJ. Field viii also
probably carry out the long-lived tledi-
tions OF the family.
Every one has been watching the long
car eer, illustrious rs long drawn cut. ol
Mr.. G lgdstone. The "grand old man.
sometime ago celebrated his eighty.
third birthday and is now in his eighty
fourth year. The manner in which the
sessions of tie house of commons are
held are particularly trying to the en-
durance even Of young men. They are
hours ayant the twal, }" and yet this mar
yelous cid gentleman can riee in his
place and pour out stream of elo-
quance that no other member can hope
cit ther to stem or rival. His voice ia as
clear as bell and rings out like clar
ion, his utterance is go rapid that few
stenographers can follow him, and his
impassoned delivery and force of argu-
ment are marvel to the house. Glad
stone also has been all his life in the
habit of taking great deal OF exercise.
His exploits in chopping down trees in
the park of Hswarden castle are fami-
liar to all readers of newspapers. There
are hints that his health has at last be-
gun to fail him, but this has become an
old story After each sensational mar
ration of the kind he rises in his place
and displays his old time vigor and i'm
petuoaity. The gossips have already
gone SO far az TO select his successor in
the leadership of the Liberal party in
the person Of Sir William Vernon Har-
court, g comparatively young man, but
! DbiHhSDA sIAAs1 hhFC iioppSHcu b4IhH
that Gladstone she uld survive his lieu.
tenant.
Queen Victoria gives excellent indi-
cations OF living to green old age. II
is very much question as to whether
or no she may not survive her son, who
is whst is known as "high roller. .
The astonishing grip on life of the ole
Emperor William surprised and pleased
Europe, for he WAS man az good al
gold, and his life was guarantee fol
the peace OF the old world. He not only
lived to goodly age, but he was able
almost to the last, to keep his seat Oh
horseback while be reviewed his troops,
which we're sometimes hours in passing
a given point. His friend and coun-
selor, the illustrious Won Moltke, man.
aged to live over the nonogenarian line,
and he was heard to remark few DAYS
before his death, "Oh, that / were only
eighty-cne," decade seemed to count
for much with the German hero. Up to
the very hour of death he preserved his
usefulness, and retained to the last con-
troll Of that wonderful machine, the
German army. Both old William and
the great field marshal were fond of
taking great deal of exercise. The
emperor was much in the saddle, while