The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1901-07-27
RECORDS OF LONGEVITY.
SOME QUEER RECORDS IN REGARD
TO OLD ACE.

The Youngest Old Man In the World
Most Experts Preach Temperance
There is No Rule For II wing Long-No
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 New York Sun.
M, L.egeave, the Dean of the French
Academy, is perhaps the youngest old
man in the world He has turned ninety
but is still fair billiard player and an
accomplished fencer, able to lunge and
recover with the vigor and activity of a
young man. He is q professor in the
art of, growing old" or rather of ex-
tending youth and it would be difficult
to find a professor with pupils that can
beat his in their willingness to learn.
His prescription is, kindness, brotherly
love, optimism, gayety and happiness.
| Be happy" says Legouve, for happi-
ness prolongs life" Who that wants to
prolong life could desire a more deli
cious medicine? But it recalls the per-
emptory order to the jester, BE funny,
sir, directlyP
Longevity Is a subject that has been
dealt with by many authors and also
by many humbugs. DIR. Moore insisted
that the surest way to live long was to
avoid doctors But it was after he had
made his fortune that he promulgated
that formula. II was F1ourens 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 down but they are bur-
dened with so many exceptions that
they all may be condensed into the rather
arbitrary precept, take good care to have
long-lived fathers and mothers, as well
as grandfathers and grandmothers, un-
cles and aunts.
In the "Galerie des Centenaires An
ciens ct Medernes," we find the names
of Thomas Parr and Henry Jenkins,
who are credited respectively with the
ages of I52 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 Serimphau was married when
she was l27 and died when she was 1913.
DR.. Dufournel married when he was a
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 1873. 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
1 birthday. The Irish Bluebeard, Patrick
O'Neil, buried seven wives before he
finally died at the age of 40. The
records also tell of Norwegian peasant
who died at 10, leaving two sons tc
lament his loss, one aged 1903 and the
other a promising little chap of nins
summers
Coming down to more recent times, We
find that the late Queen Victoria in I8os
killed Mr.. Robert Taylor when he was
hundred and thirty-four by sending hin
her picture signed by herself. The ole
fellow was SO delighted that he dice
from emotion. Durand d'Estivel of Ca
hors attributed his hundred and twenty
eight years to taking an occasional dos
of gun-powder instead of castor OIL
woman of hundred and twenty-fou
claimed that her great age was due tt
strong coffee imbibed in great quantities
A man of one hundred and fourteen
years rarely ate anything except fruit
principally melons, and he constant.
chewed lemon peal.
Now tot up all those queer contradic
tons and find the right prescription TO
longevity. The conclusion will probabl,
be that, if man is free agent, he shoul'
be careful in the selection of his parents
But, after all, there is great consola
ton in the assertions of philosophers lik
Flourens, Jean Finot and others that tn
human machine is intended by nature t.
last at least one hundred years.