New-York tribune., 1905-04-16
HOW TO LIVE TO BE OLD.
AdUice of Yankee Deacon NoSc IN
His Hundredth Year.

Putnam. Conn. April 15.-"If you want to
live to be as old as am. be temperate Keep
an even disposition; don't let your angry pas
slons rise"
Thus spoke Deacon Ezra Hammond, ninety
nine years Old who sings In church every
Sunday he attends. Deacon Hammond lives in
West Woodstock about the distance Of half a
dozen city blocks from the Congregational
church. of which he has been a member for
seventy years Until a couple Of years ago.
when his eyesight grew dim. the deacon sang
in the choir, and he still continues to raise his
clear tenor voice in song with the congregation
when hymns sung
The aged deacon's hearing is impaired and
his eyes have cataracts over them, but through
all these ninety-nine years he has retained his
marvellOusIy sweet tenor voice which made him
famous throughout the WoodstOcks as a singer
in the old singing school days.
II was born up here In Woodstock said
Deacon Hammond. "and there is the breath OF
long life on these hills. There's older man
than me over in South woodstock His name Is
Warner and he will be a hundred years old this
coming June. But I'll be hundred. too. next
February. Old Man Warner amt as spry as
I am. But got cold last october that has
hung on to me all winter and kept me in the
house Inore'n have been in before any winter
yet.
Il was always a singer In the old singin'
school days I was one Of the best singers in the
school But the singin' school days have gone.
and you don't hear the people singin around as
they did fifty sixty years ago. Everybody
sang in the old days. Now any who sings
wants pay for it. They sang for the love of
singin'. then.
I've set under the preachin Of twenty-one
preachers in that little church down there at the
crossroads. That's sayin' more'n most folks
can say.
IT can't see to read any more. but they tell
me that they are tryin' over In the legislature
at Hartford to get through a whippin' post BILL
Why. seen men whipped at the post, back in
1912, when 1 a little boy. II up at
Bowen's tavern. where DR.. George Austin
Bowen lives now. There was two men. They
stole clothes from line and the constable
caught them and they were tied fast to the sign
post Of the tavern and licked Their backs was
stripped TO their shirts. Then their hands were
tied high above their heads so their feet just
touched the ground. Rance Charles. who was
High Sheriff of Windham County then. licked
them. He had stick about as big around as
your first finger and maybe yard long. On
, end of this fastened lot of rawhides,
and they all colOrS, red, green, blue and
yellow like q toy whip. Rance Charles weighed
over 300 pounds. / don't remember how many
lashes he gave the men. but it made Rance
sweat.
himself" said Deacon Hammond proudly, as he
rocked back and forth in his easy chair. No.
1 can't see to shave myself. but 1 shave myself
by feelin' 1 could shave myself in the cellar
just as well as up here in the light and don't
cut myself, nuther. But my razor is a good
one. It cuts keen to-day it did eighty
years ago. and it's never been grOund-only
honed once OF twice.
L voted for Roosevelt the last Presidential
election. and the President sent me of his
photographs with his own handwriting on 1t.
Old Man Warner got one, too for he voted for
Roosevelt also. The first ballot ever cast was
| for William Writ, in 1882. who the anti
/ Mason candidate.
Want TO know my prescription for long life.
| eh?" chucked Deacon Hammond as the writer
| suggested that every one would be interested to
/ know 10 what he attributed his long life.
We'll. I've lived to be as old as am because
/ always had an even and a cheerful disposition,
/ even if 1 do say it myself. Be slow 10 anger
that is the secret Of long life. Live temperatey.
Temperance don't mean to keep away from Hq-
| uor and tobacco alone Be temperate in your
| passions. Keep them controlled. I never used
| tobacco but two three times in my life. That
/ weed don't pTOlOng life, so l don't use it.
/ was always careful about liquor, too. There is
| too much drinking these days Seems to be
/ part of the social life nowadays to drink. It's
| bad idea. And the boys don't get the out
| door work to-day they did in my time. Fresh
| air and plenty of exercise in it is what makes
| you strong and healthy. But keep cheerful.
! That will add years to any ones life"
| Deacon Hammond is veteran of the Civil
War. He lives with his daughter. Miss Lucy
| Hammond. in a cosey little white cottage in the
centre of the village.