The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-24
STORY OF PATRICK THOMPSON
RUDE Allyn in Fargo Forum.

RUDE Allyn In Fargo Forum.
Realizing that the life record of one
Individual is not safe standard as a
rule, still think it will aid us to some
extent to emphasize the accuracy Of re-
cent scientific experiments by the United
States department of agriculture as to
the relation of a. simple diet to long life.
therefore present for your consideration
brief history Of the life Of Patrick
Thompson, 80 years of age this st. Pat
rick's day in the morning. He enters on
his Tooth year Of life in good health, able
to take care Of himself and enjoy each
day. :. 49,
Patrick Thompson was born in Mount
Shannon, county Of Galway, Ireland, on
March II, 1907. His wife died at the age
| of "a, having cuddled in her arms children
of the fifth generation. This fine old
specimen Of manhood is the father of
seven children, thirtysix grandchildren,
reat-great-grandchildr There are no
very large families in the lot, either. They
average four to a family. This one
couple have increased the population in
their single life by sixty six, and. these
are scattered all over the United States
and Canada. No member of any Of these
families has at any time been afflicted
with a germicidal disease more dangerous
than measles in childhood Ill.,:
| IuS Olu SclLle1Ildn WdS always tSlupei-
ate in his habits. He was not teeto-
taller, however, as such a person would
have been considered a curiosity in his
early life in Ireland. His habits were
very regular. He believed firmly in and
lived up to the early to bed and early tt
rise theory. He was hearty eater an6
smoked a pipe. He had a very strict
business code, giving and exacting the
last penny. The Bible was his library
ho hofi RI {
has never lived in a large town or city
nor have any Of his descendants, say,
one son, who moved to Chicago and ha!
grown fat and rheumatic in the wind!
city. ..'.. -
Long life in the. Individual is of cours,
primarily due to a well-balanced, vigor
Gus constitution, but my observation!
lead me to conclude that only minds VIII
have mastered economy, either thru ne
cessity or natural tendency or education
live out their life. European peasant
who are forced to a vegetable diet large
ly, and moderation in all other things o
necessity, cling to life most tenaciousy
They come to this country with a clea
, eye, roses in their cheeks and loaf o
bread in their pockets. Two or thre
years of prosperity and beefsteak start
, them to talking about the climate no
' being so healthy here, so they close dow
the windows and pile in the grub, and /
consumption doesn't get them, rheuma
tism does. The only physical economic
they practice is in fresh air and exercise
: Practically all gluttons-I mean gour
mands-have quarrel with the climat
in which they live. Nature is a kind c
a socialist and equalizes all things. Th
luxurious livers die early. .~
, Patrick Thompson has lived to be 8
years Of age because he was not rich, nc
in need; because potatoes. buttermSl an
| oatmeal were considered good enoug
food for anybody; because he was gres
, walker; because he. got married young t
l a girl with love and laughter in her heal
and lived happy ever after, and his chi
) dren and his childrens children and the
children again point to him with love an
pride, and places riches secondary I
: physical perfection. -: s =.
He is my grandfather. 49, ssgf.z e