The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-03-08
QlYEARsOLD TODAY.

John re. Bst,forii OF Wheeling, Harm
aiarei, stu 1907 still Well Preserved
9isn-Ths SECRET OF Longevity ms Disc
closed BY. several OLD People.
A year ago to-day the Intellisencer
announced the fact that the venerable
John X. Bossford, who lives at No. "a
Thirteenth street. In this city. had at
tanned the ripe ind unusual age OF
ninety years, and had entered the tenth
decade OF his existence with fair pros
poets OF adding yet other years 10 his
long and useful record. Well, Mr..
Botssord has scored another year since
March s. 1887, and Is started still fur
Their along towards the century mark.
which ali his many friends, old ind
young, hope TO see him attain.
Az appropriate 10 the nlnety.flrst
birthday OF our venerable citizen we ap-
pend hereto an article that recently APP
peated In the London News on the art
OF growing old gracefully and health
fully, and enjoyably. which Is not only
appropriate TO this dayibut useful and
instructive any day In the year. We
quote Il as follows: -,
1.-THE art OF growing old Is acquored by
comparatively few, though II 10 an art
in which the great majority OF people
are anxious to excel. Since the recent
publication In the Daily News OF a list
OF some OF Its more eminent professors.
we have been endeavor!ng by means of
circulars and printed llsts OF questions
TO elicit little information on the sub
ject. We have been favored with a
good many replies--for which, by the
way, we desire to thank those who have
been good enough to send them-from
many interesting people, all OF whom
are over eighty years of age and many
OF whom are considerably older than
this. III n 411TTT.
The tlrst impression one gets from q
general survey OF these replies Is that
this art OF living TO n great age Is after
I'LL an extremely simple one. Whether
II Is worth cultiyatlng under all clrcum-
stances may perhaps be considered
doubtful. This doubt was suggested by
one OF the first papers received, and It
was from Mr.. George Hurst, man who
ought TO be an authority on the subject
IL any living man can be. In an ex-
ceedingly we'll written letter, apparent
~ by his own hand, Mr.. Hurst tells us
that he was born on the 10th OF Febru-
airy, 1890. He Is therefore on the point
OF completing his ninety-eiEhth year,
and he says he is going TO look out with
much interest for these articles on
longevity, evidently expecting to get a
wrinkle or two for future use. ~ In
close" he adds, "a slip Of n trIfle I
have recently sent to one ofeour news
papers" It Is this slip which sug-
Gcsts the doubt referred TO, for It Is to
be feared that the conditions set forth
In It are such as old age cannot always
command. The lines are reprinted
from the Bedfordshirs Mercury of the
3lst Of August, 1896:
For lengthy life to be desired,
Many things must be required.
Income from rent and taxes clear,
AT least one thousand pounds q year;
Invested with security;
But not from landed tenantry.
A pleasant wife, a thorough beauty.
Doing well domestic duty;
Ruling the house with perfect skill.
Seeming to yield, but has her will:
Though smoothly you're led by the nose
You are the master. you suppose.
Children bright, but not too many,
The number two Is best OF any,
The boy attentive when at school,
Playful away, but not n fool:
a pretty girl, her mothers pet,
or whose carcsses share you get. E|
a steady horse TO drive or ride,
Moving with action us with pride;
That On his knees has never been,
Homage to pay cen to q queen. @
4 house in order by the brook,
Where no one can you overlook;
But IN q towns vicinity. .s-