Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
TWO RULES OF LIFE

"a year ago last summer said man
who writes for magazines, II was ordered
by publication that occasionally hands me
money to get the material for and fix up an
illustrated article about centenartans.
was living in New York then. and so de-
cided to tackle the nearest centenarians to
New York that 1 knew anything about
They were a couple of nimble old boys, both
of them living ION Long Island, one at
Jamaica and the other at Great Neck.
decided to make one day of it in interview
ing and photosraphing the both of them.
Il found the aged individual OF Jamaica
engaged in wedding his garden. He was
about the busiest leg year-old man that
ever saw. His cheeks were rosy, his eyes
clear, his white hair glossy and plentiful,
his teeth first rate, his hearing as good as
mine and his walk firm. He had less trou-
BILE bending over those truck and flower
beds of his than. would have had, and
when he came to an erect position he was
as straight as lance. There was. in fact,
suggestion of great power about him as
he stood up and faced me. There wasn't
a quaver in his voice when he courteously
inquired my business.
we talked for a couple OF hours. and l
photographed him in various positions. He
had lived by the book all his life. he told
me, and had been born In the house in
which 1 found him. In all OF his lO6 years
he had never spent more than eight nights
out of his bed in that house. He had never
been farther away from Jamaica than New
York city. and had never wanted to get any
farther away from jamaica. He had never
tasted cup of coffee or tea In his hfe and
for the past thirty years he hadn't eaten
particle OF meat. subsisting altogether on
fruits. vegetables and cereals. He had
never even Smeh Of any sort OF liquor IN
his life. and the very thought of tobacco In
any form nauseated him, and mad always
nauseated him. The hot roast that he gave
liquor in particular made me feel pretty
cheap over the bottle Of beer had taken
at a tavern across the way from the
Jamaica station on my way to the oio man
home-I was afraid that he might have
smelt my breath. Every day of his life.
for the past seventy-odd years, he had
taken a good brisk walk Of at least four
miles, in all weathers-hot or cold. rain,
snow, sleet or hail, blizzard or calm. He
had made it a lifelong practice to be IN
his bed at o'clock every night. and just as
regularly he climbeu out of bed at O'Clock
in the morning. Oh! he was a good old
man, all right and his description OF his
manner OF living abashed me-
II was full OF meditations upon the sub
ject of the ascetic life for a man desirous of
attaining the 1o0-year mark when left
this rosy old gentleman and took the train
to dig up the other aged man at Great
Neck.
II found this agile youth Of 106 years
seated In a fine, big easy chair on the front
porch OF his vine-draped and rose adorned
skin, teeth as good If not better than my
own, perfect sight and hearing and plenti-
full silver hair. When he rose from his
chair to greet me there was not only no
creaking in his joints, but his movements
were free, supple, easy. He was smoking
a short, black clay pipe Of villainous eff1u-
via, and he was even tnen chipping off an
other pipeful from a black plug with a
penknife. He greeted me cordially and
gave me handclasp that was full Of
power. I explained my mission to him.
All right. my son.. said he. but talk
ing's dry work. and he winked sagely at
me and led the way. We went into the
sitting room. where there was a sdeboard.
He took four finger hooter of red liquor.
and l joined him to be polite, although the
day was hot and didn't want it. Then
we returned'ito the porch and after he had
his pipe filed with black tobacco a-going-
it made me dizzy to see the old boy smoke
that tobacco in that pipe-he talked.
Yep. he was 10s and If I doubted 1t
could see the entry on the register of the
little old church down the street. He had
jammed about the country good deal In
his young days, but had been settled down
in Great Neck for the past forty years or
SO. Exercise? He laughed. He had never
taken a bit of exercise in his life when he
could get cut of 1t. He wouldn't walk a
block for anybody If there was any way of
avoiding it.sa What did he eat? ANY old
thing that he wanted. He laughed again
as he told me that he had partaken of a lot
of cold veal son the night before a. bit pre-
yious to retiring. He had chewed tobacco
ever since his twelfth year, and had smok-
ed continuously and perhaps excessively
ever since his fifteenth year He couldn't
remember when he hadn't drank LIQUOR
How many drinks Of liquor did he take
dayf OH he didn't count 'em, but he didn't
suppose he had been taking more than ff-
teen or twenty drinks of rye a day for the
past twenty or more years-when q man
was getting On in years 1t was necessary
for him to be a bit careful In such matters
he added, naiYely. He went to bed when he
felt like 1t, often remaining up until mid
night to chat with cronies~ who called upon
him. He didn't believe in this early rising
nonsense. and there were consumed few
sun rises that he had ever SEEM He had
buried five wives. and he dryly remarked
that he was just beginning to take notice
again. and that I needn't be surprised IL
heard Of him, getting married again some
time within the next few years. I photo
graphed him, and we took another drink-a
stiff, four finger one again for the old gen
tleman. We chatted for while longer and
then announced my intended departure
He said he wasn't going to send any man
away from his home dry, and we had an
other ball-fonr fingers once more for him.
He was right clipper and cheerful and
flushed when he waved his hand at me as
turned the corner down the street
so there you are. You can fix 1t I'D your
self. 1t was too deep for me, and it still
is"