Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1899-11-07
SECRET OF A LONG LIFE
Hale George Brakeman Tells
How He Became a Centenarian.

900
DOES NOT BELIEVE IN MEDICINES.
Temperate In All Things, an Alb
stainer From stimulants. Activity
His Only Tonic. He Recently Cele-
brated the Hundredth Anniversary
of HIS Birth 1t Derby. Coma.
"Mr. Brakeman. how ever did you do
itY'
"Well," replied Derby's Grand Old
Man." standing on the porch Of his
beautiful home, 1--WE just lived natu-
rallike, as God intended men should
live. and l reckon that's the way to
keep on living forever"
George Brakeman il the idol of the
New Haven country for miles around.
n Derby. Conn.,. he was born, Oct. 10.
l7SS; IN Derby he will probably die.
though the prospect for the latter
event Is in no way threatening. Tall,
straight, handsome, with scarcely q
crease on the clear cut features framed
in white hair and beard; active in ev-
cry mental and physical qualification,
quick Of wit and limb, Mr.. Brakeman
at 100 years Of age is splendid exam
pie Of what constitution will do for q
human being II it Is only given half q
chance. The other day Derby shut up
shop and took holiday, even to the
public schools and bank, In honor Of
the man who, starting In life penni-
less country lad. through his own ef-
fort became wealthy merchant and
founder Of Institutions.
1.-The fountain Of perpetual youth"
said Mr.. Brakeman to . correspondent
of the New York Wopld while seated
In his favorite spot on the back veran-
da. overlooking Derby. lis not 4 myth.
1t is a reality. 1t comes to every life,
for it Is the symbol Of life. and out Of
its depths spring the waters Of CON-
mon sense, reason, judgment and tenn
perance in all things. Every man has
the chance to make his life what he
will. when he will and to last rs long
as he will. Natural causes produce
natural results. We can't eat our pie
and have 1t too. We can't make bon
fire of our vitality in youth and expect
1t to burn just as brightly In old age,
with NO fuel left to feed upon. The
slow fire last longest. Not that my
life has been q particularly slow one,
however. have enjoyed all things,
but within reason. have surveyed
the ground, marked out the limits and
lived within them. Each Of us must
have his own experiences. had to
have mine.
"Since l was p years old not one
drop OF medicine Of any sort has pass
ed my lips. Year by year have be-
come stronger and heartier. am con-
WINGED that the use Of medicines is a
great drawback to a long life or q
strong one."
"But If you were seriously ill?"
II have been. Not long ago, some 20
or 80 years, had pneumonia, and sew
eral years later a bad remittent fever.
My wife had all the doctors in Derby
assembled around me writing prescrip.
tons. took no medicine, however.
When became bit delirious, felt It
coming. and made my wife promise
that no medicine should be administer
ed. Well, 1t wasn't, and here l am.
One doctor had habit Of saying, Just
little tonic. little whisky and Qui-
nine But l didn't drink when l was
we'll, and l would not drink when
was SICK"
'"Then you don't approve Of liquor?'
mo" very decidedly. From princi-
ple? "Well. no; from lack Of good
excuse. What is there in the liquor
habit? It's unpleasant to the taste, I'M
pleasant in it's effect, injurious to the
system. What has the drunkard to
show for his money? Not even a good
time, for how can a man look back to
good time when he forgets what hap
pened?"
"Have you experimental" mo, not
personally. was willing to CLEAN that
much information by way Of the old
precept to try it on a dog There were
many who seemed willing enough to
constitute themselves pitiable exam
pies Of liquors poor results
Lasting results, do you mean, or the
sort that pass away with the follow
ing morning?" II mean lasting re-
sults,' said Mr.. Brakeman earnestly;
results that never pass away, not
even with the life that caused them.
For the others the tippler has infu-
enced live on, and to his progeny he
leaves a heritage Of poverty and a
tendency to incline to his weakness.
There is no part of mans life-social,
financial, physical, moral, ornamental
which is not impaired by the use of
liquors.
I'm moderation? Well, suppose
more or less cause produces more or
less effect, but it's only matter Of de.
gree. No, not for illness, nor as slim.
ulant. don't believe in stimulants.
The reaction is twice as intense as the
temporary tonic. Tea and coffee are
stimulants. l never touch them.
haven't for more than IS years. They
affect the nerves, and so does smok'
ing" ''Ihen you don't smoker" mo