Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-07-03

not want Tor The necessaries OF life Tor
can say as did the Apostles OF old 81
lack for nothing"
Your valuable paper is a welcome
visitor and its pages are perused with
much interest.
WALLACE FIFE.
OLDEST MANN swl
csremouias on Hts 10. al Birthday
Annivcr.sry -Gnthoring Gcaeaiosy
-uissionary Mates.
HoELLsrBlN, Basel-Land, Switzerland.
May 2s.h, 1897.
To the Editor:
To-day this little old fashioned Swiss
village seems to have forsaken in a
great ms asure its antiquated appearance
and to have donned, as it were, its hpli-
day attire. Four arches OF evergreen
trees AID oughs are placed ac-oss the
street at conspicuous points, and each
house viss with its neis hbor in the dis
pla, OF decorations; even the manure
piles along the street. in front o, the
kitchen doors, which at other times
these farmers appear to be proud OF, are
covered with pine boughi.
The occasion OF Htelsieins dressing
up is that Papa Tnommen," one of its
ciuzeEs, is Io2 years old today. This
celebration has been got up by some
thirteen Singing Clubs, Representing
nearly all the towns in this bezirk Ids
trict.) A granl concert was given az
O'Clock in the little church, which
however, would only seat few besides
the singers, though sea we're arranged
outside for many more. 1t was very
appropriate way of cheering the old
man, ior he'has been great singer and
lover OF music in his day.
Alter welcome anthem by the
Hoe.lstein choir, open ny remarks were
made by citizen in which he encourage
ed singing and suggested that it had
probably contributed much to lengthei
out the lite OF the man they were honor
M.
1t was then announced that "Pappa
Thommen' would sing song which he
had learned ninety years ago; to be &C
companed by his nephew who is
eighty-iour years of age. Strangers
were asionished at the clearness of til -ir
voices and the harmony in their song;
the nephew sang alto TT
The remainder of the program was
successfully carried Out; the songs
which were patriotic and peculiar to
Switzerland. were beautifully sung.
AT the close the performers formed a
procession headed by band and
marched through Town.
some three weeks ago visited this
Hans Jacob Thommen ia his home. He
is pleased to have strangers cali upon
him, and he eheeriully aniwered my
questions He was born in Gsl,erkn-
den, Can on Basel, May 2Sth, 1895 He
is The Oldest person in the canon aud
probably the eldest in all Sw2 ,Iland.
His occupation, since early chndhood,
has been that OF Posamenter-ribbon
weaver-at which he labored till he was
100 years d. He always has been
man OF steady habits, arising regularly
at six O'Clock in winter and five in sum
mer Even now he gets up early aud
spends the days in the large room where
five OF his children and grand children
are at work at their weaving. He ap-
pears to be comfortable only when with
in sound of the looms. He read well
without glasses up 10 one year ago;
since that lime, however, his sight has
become quite dim. His memory and
reasoning faculties are apparently unim-
paired. He enjoys good health gener-
ally.
The proceedings OF today have been
of especial interest 10 me. for the reason
that my grandmother, FL zabeth D1gen,
was born in this place and lived here
until her fifteenth year, when, in COM
pany with her father, she emigraied to
America, in 1916. Joining the church
of Jesus Christ oil Latter-day Saints with
her hu band in early Nauvoo times, she
endured many OF the hardships con-
nec,ed wi h the .travelings Of the Church
and the early settlement OF Utah. In
Lehi, wher. they lived, she was well
known for her great faith In the Gospel
and is or finances, and she often ex-
pressed the desire tnst the Gospel be
preached TO her relatives in Switzerland,
and the geneslogy oil her ioreiathers be
obtained. For this purpose | secured
permission to spend few weeks, at the
close oil my mission, in this vicinity. Ia
my genealogical work here have been
greatly blessed OF the Lord, having had
tree access TO the church records, from
which have copied quite complete
record OF our progenitoIs have been
kindly treated by the relatives who still
live here, 10 whom have delivered the
message OF the Gospel, and have given
them tracts to read.
Before closing desire to add that my
experience as a missionary in Germany,
although not all sunshine, was still in the
main very pleasant ard agreeable.
was often chagrined at tibet ught Of my
own weaknesses and inability, but was
comlortsd in se,ing The lulhllment OF
the promise that, the Lord requires
nothing at the hands OF His children but
what he makes them competent. My
testimony has Increased very much aud
| will ever be thankful for this privilege
| have had OF proving my fidelity to
God and the Church whlcn He has es-
tabished in this lat dispensaiion.
The mission is ia a prosperous condi-
tiol; the noble band Of energetic young
Elders are acoompli 'hing great work,
although serious drawback is and has
been, mat so many have had the Lam
guage TO Learn alter arriving here.
HOMER d. FusHMAN.