The sea coast echo., 1901-08-31
RECORDS OF LONGEVITY.
some QUEER RECORDS IN REGARD
TO OLD ACE.

The Youngest Old Man In the World
Most Experts Preach Temperance
Thsrs Is No Rule For u Wing Long-Nc
table Cases Cited.
The recent death OF the French philan.
thropist, Pierre Lasserre, at the age OF
ioi, has prompted the Paris papers to
rake UP some queer records IN regard
TO longevity, notes the NeSv York San.
M. Legouve, the Dean OF the French
Academy, is perhaps the youngest old
man in the world. He has turned ninety
but is still d fair billiard player and an
accomplished fencer, able to lunge and
recover with the vigor and activity Of
young man. He is a professor in the
art OF growing old" or rather OF ex-
tending youth, and il would be difficult
to find professor with pupils that can
beat his in their willingness 10 learn.
His prescription is, kindness, brotherly
love, optimism, gayety and happiness.
Be happy" says Legouve, "for happ-
ness prolongs life" Who that wants TO
prolong life could desire more deli
cious medicincf But II recalls the per-
emptory order to the jester BE funny,
sir, directlyr'
Longevity Is subject that has been
dealt with by many authors and also
by many humbugs. Dr. Moore insisted
that the surest way to live long was to
avoid doctors. But il was after he had
made his fortune that he promulgated
that formula. II was Flourens who said,
Man does not die natural death; he
kills himself" Most of the doctors OF
longevity preach temperance, but the tes-
timony does not always support their
arguments. As matter Of fact. there
Is no rule for living long. Many rules
have been laid downsbut they are bur-
dened with so many exceptions that
they all may be condensed into the rather
arbitrary preccpt, take good care to have
long-lived fathers and mothers, as well
as grandfathcrs and grandmothers, un-
cles and aunts.
In the "Galerie des Ccntenaires An
ciens ct Modernes," we find the names
of Thomas Parr and Henry Jenkins,
who are credited respectively with the
ages OF 1s2 and 100 years, and both of
whom died by accident All investiga-
tors have not accepted the alleged re-
cords of these venerable Britons. Mile.
Jeanne Scrimphau was married when
she was I27 and died when she was 1873.
DR.. Dufournel married when he was
hundred and sweet sixteen. and became
the happy father of two children. But
he died when he was only hundred and
twenty. Marie Priou of the Haute-
Garonne reached the age of 1853. Nine
de Volmerange Of Metz died at the age
OF 100. She was the mother Of twenty
four children. Surgeon Politman, a ma
tive OF Lorraine celebrated his I4oth
birthday The Irish Bluebeard, Patrick
y Neil, buried seven wives before he
finally died at the age of 100 The
records also tell of Norwegian peasant
who died at 100, leaving two sons to
lament his loss, one aged 1903 and the
other promising little chap of nine
summers.
Coming down to more recent times. We
find that the late Queen Victoria in 1903
killed Mr.. Robert Taylor when he was
hundred and thirty-four by sending him
her picture signed by herself The old
fellow was so delighted that he died
IRON emotion. Durand d'Estiyel of Ca
hors attributed his hundred and twenty
eight years to taking an occasional dose
of gun-powder instead of castor oil. A
woman of hundred and twenty four
claimed that her great age was due TO
strong coffee imbibed in great quantities.
A man of one hundred and fourteen
years. rarely ate anything except fruit
principally melons, and he constantly
chewed lemon peal.
Now tot up all those queer contradic-
tions and find the right prescription for
longevity. The conclusion will probably
be that. II man is free agent, he should
be careful In the selection of his parents.
But, after all, there is great consola-
ton in the assertions of philosophers like
tlourens. Jean Finot and others that the
human machine is intended by nature to
last at least one hundred years.