Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-08

faculties are as bright as they We're when
he managed the navy of the United
! States, and his soul is young as when
he was admitted to the bar. now more than
sixty-four years ago. Tall, straight and
fine looking. his blue eyes shine with life,
his skin is as fresh as that of a baby. and
the chief signs of his age are in his silyery
hair and the Slightly feeble way in Whic h
he moves about from place to place. HIS
voice was strong as he chatted with me and
as looked at him l could not realize that
he had lived more than twice as long as l
Upon this earth. and l asked him the secret
of his wonderful vitality. Mr.. Thompson
replied:
How to Grow Old.
Il suppose the secret of my good health
is largely due to temperance in eating and
drinking. l drink very little, and L never
eat anything that does not agree with ME.
was born. you know, in Calpeper, Va,
and when l was approaching manhood the
doctors held consultation over me and
decided that l would die of consumption
They said my only salvation was to keen
cut OF doors, and my father made me take
a morse and tour over the mountains To
hehtucky. did this, and spent the
greater part of two years on horseback
coming nome with much more flesh than
Whcn L started, and in excellent health.
don think the doctors knew what they
were taking about, but l have no doubt
the horseback riding did me good
i see that you use tobacco Mr. Tho,,n-
son." said 1. as pointed to the cigar which
he was smoking.
Yes; I have smoked all my life, and
most of the time to excess. Not long ago
L became subject to sort of fits and the
doctors told me that it was due to nicotine
poison. They said / was otherwise per-
fectly healthy, but that my system was
saturated with nicotine. 1 then proposed
to stop my smoking, but the doctors ad-
vised me to reduce my limit to four cigars
a day. 1 have done this, and am now free
from any bad tendencies of any kind
A Healthy Old Mans Habits.
Tell me something about your habits,
colonel"
II don't knew that I have any," was
the reply. "While 1 was Secretary of the
Navy at Washington 1 did not touch
glass Of wine and do not now take about
three teaspoonfuls of whisky day by my
doctors advice. My best meal is my break
fast. and enjoy good beefsteak and ca,
plenty of it. drink one cup of coffee
at this time"
''How about cakes?"
Il like cakes and wafiles, and 1 eat
them"
How about the other meals?"
don't care much for them: / eat only
DO you take much sieep?"
Yes; I nave always slept a great deal.
and I sleep late now. When l was in
Washington had to be up as late as 1 OF
O'Clock every night but 1 usually re-
manned in bed until late in the morning"
do you believe in cold baths?"
mo. think one should battle simply to
keep clean. This I do. One thing which
has done more for my health than anything
else Is the use OF a pair of horSe-hair nit
tens. With these 1 rub my skin until -
glowS from crown to sole night and morn
ing. This keeps it in excellent condition. 1
have done this for more than forty years
every night and every morning, and doubt
not it has saved me from ill-health. Ny
skin is now as soft and rosy as that of a
keeps the pores of the skin open. The
pores of the skin are, you know. the sewers
of the human system, and keep my tlou-
sands of sewers always open"
You speak OF not using wine at WASH
ington, Colonel Thompson. Mrs. Hayes,
believe, set the example to the capital by
not using wine on her table at her state
dinners?"
Wine at the White House.
Eyes, that was the case" replied the ex-
Secretary of the Navy. But my use of
the period while l was in the cabinet /
never drank glass during all my public
service, in Congress and elsewhere. 1 felt
that had the need of all my faculties and
that could not afford to impair them by
the use of wine. As to Mrs. Hayes. she in
sisted that no wine should be used at our
cabinet and at her private dinners. She
did not do so at the state dinners given at
the White House to the diplomats She re-
fused to serve wine at the dinner given to
the Grand Duk, Alexis, although Seer tary
Evarts asked her to do so. The OMISSION
created such decided sensation that she
gave in to the State Department thereafter
on the basis that the diplomatic dinners