The Washington herald., 1914-12-06
BY RALPH L. BENTON,

! Bearing the unique distinction OF being
the oldest living graduate OF the Naval
! Academy, one of the seven original mem
I bers OF the famous Aztec Club and dis
| tinguished officer Of two great American
wars, Rear Admiral J. II. Upshur. L.
$. ", retired, yesterday celebrated his
ninety first birthday.
His carriage erect, his bearing dignified.
and his demeanor one of strong will and
/ firm decision, the rear admiral even to-
day. despite his advanced age, IL typical
OF the ideal naval leader. His voice IS
frm and resonant, his gray eyes have
not lost their lustre. his hearing Is un-
Impaired, his grasp Is as strong as that
OF n Young athletes. Withal he is q
! lively man. a sociable man, a universally
/ beloved officer.
! Yesterday afternoon at so o'clock
members Of the Aztec Club met at the
ParkwoOd Apartments. X street north
W 81, between Seventeenth and Eigh-
t""nth streets. where Rear Admiral Up
shur has his residence. and called upon
the veteran in a body. This famous club
Is composed Of officers who participated
ia thr Mexican war and their direct de-
sCendants. The membership at present is
about thirty. and only seven OF this
number are charter members.
/ Prudent living and an excellent consti-
7
good health said Rear Admiral Tpshur
yesterday afternoon in answer to a ques-
tiOn as TO the secret Of his remarkable
preservation. Moderation is the guiding
principle in the lives OF all intelligent
persons II is neither respectable nor
safe to be immOderate I was so in
structed scventy-three years ago when 7
entered the navy. and during my life
have always found this So
stuck to Abstinence Pledge.
George Upshur. my mothers brother,
got me into the navy when he was
Secretary Of the Navy under Tyler"
continued the admiral. speaking Of his
naval care. In those days cadets
went TO for fve years and then to
the Academy at Annapolis, which had
just been established. for a classical
and theoretical training as officers
Before ! sailed in my first ship for
cruise in the Mediterranean waters
George Gpshur made me promise
wouldn't drink anything that contained
alcohol l stuck then and later to the
pledge ! gave At that time.
1t was common thing for my
shipmates to say after n froIic ashore
that they became as eNhilarated as
t'pshur after his third cup of tea
Then. too, have always been rational
about eating. ! have tried to be cheer
ful. II ever needed a friend. / looked
for him and found him among my as
sociates. I love the navy. and / love
the flag. and 1 feel excellently in all
ways.
Measuring the world by myself" he
resumed. II should say it is worse than
it used to be" And the admiral
laughed heartily. Using the people I
read and hear about as a measure, l
should say the world is improving very
rapidly. / am an optimist. Pessimism,
discovered long ago, does not pay.
Man should receive some compensa-
tion for his beliefs. nessImist in the
very nature OF things must be IN
happy. His doctrines cause him a loss.
Mine bring me a gain
Born In 1923.
Admiral I'pshur was born in North
ampton County. Va, in 1928. He was
student at william and Mary Col
lege. and in lS4S was graduated from
the United States Naval Academy at
Annapolis. Previous to graduation he
served in Mediterranean waters, in
Brazil. and in the Gulf of Mexico. He
was at the siege and capture of Vera
Cruz during the Mexican war, and in
1855 was appointed master, being pro-
NOTED to a lieutenancv In September
OF the same year. He accompanied the
Perry expedition which opened up
Japan to the commerce of the world.
and between the years 1857 and 1859
he was flag lieutenant of the African
squadron.
When the civil war broke out he was
an instructor In the Naval Academy. He
was assigned to duty with the North At
lantic squadron, and served with Il for
two years during the war. He was pres