The Cook County herald., 1899-09-09
TO LIVE. A HUNDRED YEARS.
Capt. Baker Swtms in Winter and
Is Healthy at Nearly Four
Score.

Capt. Abram Baker, the well-kn own
winter swimmer at Asbury Park, says
that he hopes to live long enough to
be 100. The captain is 76, is hale and
hearty and something of an athlete.
His daily life is planned on the theory
that temperate living and proper atten-
ton to hygiene will bring him safely
over the century mark.
It is not often that a man who has al
ready passed his three score and ten
starts out to double on nature, but
Capt. Baker says he has surer founda-
tion for his expectation than most en-
thusiasts because he belonged to the
old "forty -niners," and gained in the
wilds of California a rugged constitu-
tion thai not even the infirmity Of years
can impair appreciably.
'There is no reason why sh hou1d not
live to be 100 years DID," said the cap
tain recently. 'The average human ex-
istence is much higher now than it
was 100 years ago, fact due in great
measure to improved sewage and a
more general attention to the laws of
hygiene. The principal thing for an
old man to consider is the baneful re-
suits of an irregular life. Having made
up my mind to live as long as can, I
refrain from food that disagrees with
me, take only so much exercise as I
require, abstain from stimulants and
keep my heart beating with normal reg
ularity. If nothing ever happened to
disturb the heart a man might go on
and live forever, barring accidents. It
is a rule of my daily life, therefore,
to permit nothing to disturb my Sc
renity of mind.
II never allow myself to become ex-
cited or worried. You can examine my
pulse any hour of the day or night
and find that it's beats are always prac-
tically the same. Another essential
practice for the man who expects to
live 100 years is the cold water plunge,
I take this plunge every morning of my
life Formerly and until few months
ago I was an ocean bather. When
discovered that this form of cold plunge
was too great a. shock for my nervous
system abandoned it. My diet is sim
| pie, plain food, and plenty of it.
read two hours in the morning and walk
until the dinner hour. The afternoon
period is divided in much the same way
At nine o'clock promptly every night
retire.
''These laws are simple, and rigic
compliance with them has given me ar
unbroken period of health from many
years. I feel now that my youth is
being renewed. You will notice tha'
the gray in my whiskers is gradually
becoming darker. I contend that any
may who takes care of himself anc
avoids all excitement can live 100 years
unless nature is thwarted by unforeseen
accident or the ravages of an epidemic
Life to an old man.. if he is healthy
and vigorous, is just as enjoyable as i
is to the young. tits a violation of ths
laws of nature that brings disease ant
corruption to the body. If nature i
respected and her demands recognized
no man ought to get old.'
Capt. Baker wears no underclothins
in the winter and may be seen any da.
on the board walk, attired in a flame
shirt, open at the chest, and pair O
linen trousers He has had wide ex
perience in the gold fields, and as I
traveller, and is well-to-do. His natur,
is kindly and his habits studious.-N
Y. Times.