The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-11-19

] AAftd at years OF discretion, ana convinced
! that man cannot begin too early IN
! life to make his mark has gone into bush
ness with a young fellow many years MS
! Junior. DR.. Foster his partner though
only 81 years of age, has considerable bus
! mess ability. The hot blood of youth is
still bounding in his veins, and he is SOW
ing his wild oats; but DR.. Smith is of the
opinion that when time has had its quier-
ing effect upon DR.. Fosters exuberant
| spirits the wisdom of his choice will then
be shown. DR.. Foster is the original ex-
plorer of Gloucester 1t will be remem-
| bered that the poet has immortalized Dr.
rosters visit to that city in a vivid ana
accurate poem:
DR. Foster went to Gloucester
In shower Of rain,
Stepped in a puddle
Up to the middle
And never went there again"
In one corner or the Office on the second
| floor at 1918 Arch street stands green
| cotton umbrella: the identical umbrella
under which DR.. Foster entered Glouces-
| ter.
Although DR.. Smith comes Of a iong-lived
| family, he attributes his extraordinary age
| TO preparation VIII oh he calls the elixir
of life" This preparation he now parts
| with at his Office for a consideration
.aa s1e His Omce.
When the office was first opened DR..
| Foster was at perfect liberty to go to the
| key and draw himself a glass of the elixir
| when he felt so inclined but DR.. Smith
| observing him one morning with a bag of
marbles in his hand, "allies classics. cor
| CLANS and commes' has since discouraged
| him in renewing his youth so often The
doctor was rapidly growing too young and
fresh.
II hope to live to see at least twenty
years longer" said DR.. Smith, with joy
| Gus laugh.
II had an aunt who was 145. but her
| frivolity killed her at last. She went from
| Germany to London on a visit and danced
all night. The next day she laid down
and died. But girls win be girls" said he,
with a wink.
And boys VIM be boys" added DR.. Foss-
ter. leaving the window where he had been
watching the ladies cross the street. 1t
was raining.
MY father and mother both died
| young" continued DR.. Smith. 1.-The life
of the pioneer in those days was a hard
one. The privations they underwent no
| doubt shortened the lives of my parents
by fifty years. My mother was only a lit
tie over so and my father, heartbroken
at the loss of his young wife, died at the
| age of ~. My father, bold, adventurous
| spirit, accompanied by some friendly In
| dams, went down the Ohio river on
| raft. He stopped in Illinois and purchas-
| ed land near the place where Cairo now
| stands. He built q cabin with his own
| hands and an ak. I was born in this
| cabin on the 26th day of September 1776.
| Two years later my mother, unable to
| endure separation from her husband left
| Virginia and came TO Illinois to share his
! privation, and help him bear his burdens
| How well I remember the day she camel
| 1t was glorious June morning. The air
| was redolent with the odor of the spring
| flowers, the leaves were a tender green,
| the sky was azure. and about an hour
! before she came father broke the ak han
| die We often spoke of It afterward. 1t
| was a good hickory handle with appar-
emily no blemish in 1t. but father, man
] of iron will had persisted in his efforts
| to split pine knot, and the handle broke
| off near the head The latter buried itself
| 50 deep in the trunk of a tree that we
were obliged to cut the tree down to re-
! cover the ak head.
His Parents Virtues.
Father was attached to this ax-handIe,
because it recalled many fond memories
of his days in New England In fact. he
| came by it in a peculiar manner Back in
| Vermont one day, when working on a
clearing next to Peleg Woodruff's. he OBJ
! served that Peleg returned to his house
| leaving his ak sticking in stump. My
! father Immediately went over and exam
iued the AK He was a man of superior
JduSHlcul ana saw at once Andl the AK
was not only a better ak than his own,
| but sharper so he removed it.. My father
was the soul of honor, and he left his own
| ak In its place"
A mist came over the good mans eyes
as he recalled his parents virtues.
"Ah, good morning, Mr. Bostwick How
many bottles of the elixir would you like
to-d2y?"
'I-I-th-think about th-three bottles
Some of we b-hoys are ggoiug to m-make
a century run on our b-b-bilHes this after
noon. and IL want to b-b-brace up" qua
vered Mr.. Bostwick, leaning heavily upon
his cane.
IAN right we can fix you up. Doctor,
draw a glass of elixir at once for Mr.. Bost-
wick"
Mr. Bostwick tossed off a glass and a
delicate flush Immediately overspread his
cheeks. His joints creaked as he straight
ened up. His three bottles under his arm,
Mr. Bostwick gave a skip and went out.
"When a boy" continued DR. Smith.
tossing HIS hair back from his shoulder, IT
became acquainted with the medicine-man
of a powerful Indian tribe. He gave me
a receipt for restoring and prolonging life.
This receipt made in its full strength re-
stores life, diluted 1t merely prolongs It.
You will see in this vial the elixir at its
fun strength"
The doctor reached down and brought
up through his collar vial which was
fastened apout MS Hech WIN shoe
string.
This little bottle" said DR.. Smith re-
placing his whiskers on his vest, has teen
of considerable service 10 me. remember
when I was with Perry on Lake r1rle. in
the war of 1872 In the midst of the battle
I was struck by a canron ball. 1t was a
center shot II hit me in the pit Of the
stomach and not only Jared me as you
can imagine, but went on through me-
Though taken by surprise, 1 reached in
SANITY for my vial of elixir, and holding
myself together that il might not run out
look a long swallow. The growing pains
I experienced in the next few minutes were
intense, but was soon able to take my