The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-19
DR.. STEPHEN SMITH,
IS, TO CELEBRATE
Noted Physician Tells How
He Conquered Illness of
Sixty Years.
KEEPS STEP WITH TIME
Work and Live Interest in
Current Events Insure
Eternal Youth.

Since at the age of 90 a man must
c-sc.ise some conservation Of his ener-
g,es. Or. Stephen Smith will permit him
,sIf an extra half hour In bed this
morning as a bulwark against the birth
aay party his daughter has arranged for
him tonight.
There will be thirty relatives and
friends about the table at his home, 1000
Park avenue, and to make sure that he
will not draw too heavily upon his re-
sources his daughter has extracted from
hin, the promise that should he make a
speech-which he will--he will not re-
main on his feet longer than half an
hour. He laughed yesterday when asked
whether It will embarrass his conscience
subsequently, should he run three or four
minutes over the allotted time.
pr Smith was a STRIPPING OF 70 when
in 1923 he assumed the duties OF chair
man OF the State Board of Charities,
and lie remained an active member
o, Il until last year. He still remains
In medical practice, chiefly as a con-
,ultart and for the beneft of brethren
Of his profession. Il being his creed that
when a man falls out OF step with his
work and his fellow men he Is on the
decline and unlikely to make old bones
Keeps in Step with Time.
So he "a not certain that he will be
able TO keep within the half hour re-
striction when he responds to the toast
OF the day at his birthday feast to-
night but has no doubts upon the score
that he will talk standing and that his
audience will hear him without weari-
ness.
He declared yesterday that his birth
days had never been notable events With
him until he was 80, when his daugh-
ter CHANGED to think that 1t was high
time he began to celebrate his ami
yersares with a touch of ceremony.
"A man." said he. makes a grievous
mistake when he gives the milestones Of
lie serious consideration as he passes
them one after another. l have my pet
phrase, I do not permit myself to feel
the weight OF years so II you will per-
nit ME I will say that / do not know
whether l am to be 80 tomorrow or II
or IS. Others may keep the tally OF
my birthdays IL they ind any interest
or entertainment in it. but for myself
choose not to give the numerical sig
rificance of the day a single thought
As TO having my friends and my blood
kin about me that IL another matter
love them and shall enjoy the day tc
ne full"
To-day will be the frst OF his last
half dozen birthdays that DR.. Smith will
celebrate at home. His ninetieth wa.
marked by a banquet given by medica
men II the city at the Hotel Plaza
His ninety fourth he passed at Battle
Creek. Mich. where he went to look into
the theory that a vegetarian diet spell:
longevity for man.
One must keep inquiring while ht
lives he said yesterday, land so
went to Battle Creek TO see why toasted
grains were better than meat, or whether
they were any better at all. The grair
theory Is that the protein in meat. moi
he meat itself. Is necessary to human
health and that since protein exist!
beautifully in various vegetable product.
one can do without meat altogether anC
avoid the trouble of digesting what par
or the meat is valueless. So l trieC
ne theory out.
ct gained a great deal OF benefit. bu