The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-10
AT WORK AT lO5 YEARS OLD.
BARNEY MORRIS DOE HIS DAILY
STINT AND HOPES TO TILL HE DJES.
Ne To Brookiyn's Oldest City EmpIoyeo ana
Cares for the Paths and F1ower beds In
Prospect Park-uo Keeps Up with the Tirues

NE IL Brookiyn's Oldest City Employee ana
Cares for the Paths and Flower beds In
Prospect Park-ue Keeps Up with the Titnes
ana Fakes = Lively Interest In Politics.
Tho oldest city employee in Brooklyn, II not
the oldest citizen in that town. is Barney Nor.
ris, who tolls from 8 every morning until 5
every afternoon In Prospect Park, keeping the
paths and flower beds free from waste paper
and rubbish. On Juno 10 last Barney cele-
brated his lo5th birthday, and II Appearances
60 for anything he has many more birthdays
ahead. II any one wants to get Bnrney's dan.
der up all he has to do Is to suggest 10 him that
he is too old to work for his living and had bet
ter lay of. He says that he never saw tho dag
no couldn't earn his bread and butter, and
never expects to sec It. When such a time
comes, he says, he wants to die.
Barney lives with his family on the top floor
Of tho house at 36A Warren street. The fam
Iy consists Of Mrs. Morris, who Is his third
wife, and their daughter, who is 20 years old.
Barney has three other children by his first
and second wives, tho oldest Of them being tho
same age as the present Mrs. Morris. Morris
Is of slight figure. Aside from his wrinklod
skin the only sign OF his great age il the ABB
senco OF seeth. He has only one tooth left. He
says 1t Is o good solid ono and as useful as q
whole set after one gets used to it. OF hair he
has a-plenty. There isn't a bald spot on his
heei. His hair Ia iron gray. He says Il hasn't
changed its shade In twenty years. His eyes
ire as good as when he was 90. He never wears
slasses Heis strong. and people who have
seen him in the park when his bag was full OF
barney says that ho has never had moro
than q dozen pains In his life. He cannot re-
member ever being so sick that he had to take
70 his bed, and as for q doctor services, no says
viii need them: He has mover smoked nor
ohewsd. and he has drunk only one glass OF in.
to1icatinF liquor: That was when he was q
Somebody induced him to drink a glass OF
Irish whfskey on that occasion. he says. and the
feeling II gave him cured him OF any desire for
~ went 70 Father Mathew, my contessori
says. says I: ' Father, 'T TSo had the pothssn in
me, an l never want 1t again.
,, sign the pledge: me son. ,aid Father t@ Ma =
child So / signed, an 1 don't know the differ
once between ale and whisky this day"
he uves, Morris IS q man Of some consequence
He is abreast Of the times. and has as lively an
ihssF MsG Ia PSf feuds. y Which hpa K Keep spT " iO N he t' Tenth
s.isR;s e s1mi r. int :ss: 4 . L as 1H!ls sn aSs P sss$.
orally walks on with tho spoila. Ho reads
and a silver man from head 10 foot. '.
NuS OEu ] COuUtg IdNaD. pdTlbn VI
Temple Court, Ireland. on june 10, 1872" he
said to the reporter. II stand my years so well
that it's hard TO convince some people that I'm
that old. / really don't care myself whether
people believe II or not, because I'm o man that
likes a quiet life and all ! ask Is 10 be let alone
and allowed TO earn my bread and butter until
] die III DO able to do II right up 70 that time,
too. -.
II left ireland when I was 80 years old and
man for a long time and then I drifted into
hack driving. Prospect Park was a wilderness
IN those days; have driven people out to ia
maica and Hampstead and other places out
that way, but on those occasions the passenger
and myself always carried pistols and stood
ready to use them II necessary. There were
lots Of highwayrnen on the outskirts OF the city
In those days and they thought 10 more OF hold.
Ing up . hack than the outlaws OF tho Vest did
OF halting a stage coach.
In all my time In this country I've been q
good citizen. and only once was arrested. That
was when n carriage collided with mine and
got the worst ~ H.. 7 was arrested because tho
man In :he other cab had a pull, but the next
day l beat him II court. There isn't much else
to say about myself EXCEPT that ! get up at 7
o'clock every morning. go 10 bed at 2 every
night eat heartily three, times a day. and enjoy
life as much as I ever did. ] vote every cleo
ton, and never for a man unless I'm sure he's
q good and honest man. ! like Seth Low, and
I was q great adnlirer OF his father. but I'm for
. Democrat this year. and ! hope all tho Demo
Gratis viii unite and give US q good Mayor"