The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1898-05-06

When upon its darkness slows
The golden light OF morn,.
And my soul In rapt repose
Inhales the glorious dawn.
Mrs. SUSAN THORNTON PRICE.
Ocean Springs, Miss, April 26, 1893.
AN ANCIENT MARRIER.
1t seems to me that every State in
this star-spangled republic except
Louisiana has proudly come to the
front with descriptions Of its nOn0-
genarians, centenarians and other
"oldest inhabitants" Of sturdy old
men carrying around with them men,
orics of another century-men who
had been-or thought they had been
bear hunting with Daniel boone; or
men who had cut-Or thought they
had cut-thc first stick Of timber
where a great city now stands; Of
sprightly ladies who, at the ripe old
age of ITO, can still spin, dance the
minuet, read the Bible through sew
eral times year without spectacles,
and walk ten miles a day uphill, to
say nothing OF the amount OF talking
they are still able to accomplish.
Somehow the Pelican State has been
strangely remiss ia presenting her
claims in such matters. II our an
cicnt worthies-or worthy ancients-
haven't been brought before the pub
lie it has certainly not been from the
lack OF subjects. Among our citizens,
especially in the Creole parishes, are
numbers of splendidly-prcserved spe.
cimens Of old age. 1t has been said
that plenty Of our Cajuns live to be as
old as the famous She-so old that
they either blow up the chimney or
turn to autumn leaves.
There's one thing that can be said
of Lousiana: She undoubtedly bears
the palm for having produced the old
est bridegroom on rec0rd-that is, on
the records of modern times. or
course, we don't count those frisky,
5OO-year.old chaps OF antiquity, who
seem to have spent all their leisure
hours winning new brides.
The fine old Southern gentleman OF
whom write, lived and had his being
in Ouachita parish, and did his trad.
in at the little village of Trenton.
Though he has long since been gath
cred to his fathers, his memory is still
green in the hearts OF the people Of
that section.
In his early days, when frolicking
along in his 7O's and sos, this gentle
man had led several blushing brides
to the altar-how many l won't say,
for fear my veracity may be ques-
toned. Anyway, we are not con.
cerned with his early nuptials. We
have to do only with the e'wooings fol-
lowing his hundredth birthday, for he
was married two or three times after
that period, and there's no knowing
how many more times the bridal cere.
mony would have been performed for
him hal he not been snatched of In
his prime. Mine ancient-whom we
will call Jerry Gristle, simply because
his name was not Gristle-was known
far and wide in this part OF the coun'
try as the champion marryist Of the
age. And finally the people came tt
take a great natural pride in him,
pointing him out to passing strangers
with as much pleasure as II he were
the Bridge Of Signs, the Mammoth
Cave or the Mississippi River.
None knew the exact age OF Jerry
Gristle. Some said the family Bible
wherein was recorded his birth was
destroyed in steamboat explosion II
100, but the schoolmaster OF the set
Element said there was evidently ar
anachrOnism in that statement.
don't know what he meant. Others
again, declared he was 500 years old
He didn't contradict this, but l neve
quite believed 1t.
Many very old people display unbe
coming vanity over their old age, Civ
ing themselves airs, and taking all tn
credit for their longevity, but l an
, happy to say that Jerry was not pufie'
up with any such silly pride. lie Dor
his honors meekly. But candor CON
pcls the recital Of o few facts I'd fall
l conceal, II not so painfully conscien
. tious. We all know there are severa
/. things required Of every oldest Inhat
. itant-many things besido his grea
: aye. In fact, custom has given US
4 standard, up to which every applican
. for oldest -inha bitantship should conc
\ In the nrst place ho Is expected y
lhsve nurscd Washington, to have live'
on cold water and raw leaves and deer
skIn for six weeks at one time, whe'