The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-19
his Generation at Fifty Lacks the Stamina of Fathers
Overwork a Myth, Say Physical Culture Ex-
perts Who Have Watched Fathers and
Sons Grow Old and Die

until his death, which occurred in his sew
enty-fifth year. DIR. ]. r. Buchanan
So when he died Kelley founder of the
"Keeley cure" died at IS. Delaney Floyd
Jones, soldier and one of a famous family,
lived to rs years Archbishop Corrigan died
at So William NJ. Evarts at SO. Benjamin
F. Aver at the age of 49, Rear Admiral John
H. Russell died at 10 and Rear Admiral
L. p. Lee U. S. N, at IS.
Next Generation Under 10.
But Facts Are Not Conclusive
A comparison of the neurology of the gen
GRAFTON following this one reveals the pre-
vailing death age to be considerably under
20, and while such comparisons are far from
being convincing still the impression is that
men born in the period of the civil war died
at a much earlier age than their forebears.
OF the generation born in 1S45, using that
date a mean there are happily many left
and of these the names that come most
quickly to mind are those still active in
the worlds business and though they have
passed the meridian of life by lustre or
so. they remain creators and directors of
thought and action.
In such list appear tine names of two
who should be counted by right in an earlier
generation. One is Joseph Cannon, Uncle
Joe," born in 1886. And the other is John
Wanamaker whose birthday was July IL
1888
Mr.. wanamaker at 50 is still the head of
his gigantic business affairs in Philadelphia
and New York. His day is as busy and
varied by many duties as the youngest
assistant managers could possibly be- He
is at his store here or in Philadelphia among
the earliest arrivals of his clerks and he
attends personally to a large number Of let
tiers that have been sorted out of the days
mail for him. Moreover, he sees buyers
leads conferences wherein he listens to sug-
gestions of policy and gives the deciding
vote on them, and whenever he has an hour
or less free from appointments he delights
to stroll about his great store, studying its
various departments and learning at first
hand their needs and where they may be
enlarged, eliminated or improved.
Henry Clews Is one of the youngest old
men in Wall Street, but also a survival of a
forgotten era-the Jay Gould era Memories
d. not hamper him or prevent his being
strictly in the atmosphere of to-day, as
listener to his five minute talks uttered
spontaneously as occasion prompts them In
his Broad street office will agree. Born In
Stafrordshire, England, eighty years ago, he
still looks like an Englishman in spite of his
many American years and varied activities,
in which he has been author, dry goods mer-
chant, banker and lecturer.
Edison Breaks Health Laws
And Is a Notable Exception
Thomas Alva Edison, born in the middle
West February II. 1S47, is an honored mem
Der Of this famous generation and as per-
sistently inventive and scientifically curious
to-day as when many years ago Paris
crowned him as THE Electric King" This
wonderful man has broken all his life every
prescription for long living, working at the
least seventeen hours every day. Going to
bed early. which is one Of the leading articles
in these prescriptions, is one he carries out
by frequently going to bed at A. M. after
a long, studious night in his laboratory at
Orange. Exercise another rule of health
never to be broken without dire results
Edison takes by strollng occasionally
through his plant.
The inventor of the monograph, telephone
transmitter, incandescent light and more
things of an eerie nature than can be easily
inventoried is working now with the ardor
and ambition OF boy on a delicate little
instrument intended to help the spirits on
the other side of life In their supposedly
honest efforts to communicate with the liv-
ing. In pursuing what many persons think
Is will o. the wisp Edison carries out his
usual programme of concentrated. well nigh
uninterrupted work. He comes, II is true,
OF a long lived family; his father lived to
bo "a and his grandfather passed the hun
bred mark
At the office of Chauncey NJ Depew in the
New York Central Railway office building
on Lexington avenue. an office which has
the word chairman" painted on its door,
that octogenarian is to be found every busi-
ness day when he Is in town. OF all the
young old" men of his generation. Mr..
Depew shows how lightly rest the years
when they have been devoted to work OF
an agreeable kind in which intensive in
torest drives away worry. strong political
bent and variety of tastes have lightened
life for him. while his own humorous bent
founded on human understanding couldn't
fail to keep him young.
Two Old Young Men
Who Disregard Statistics
John Burroughs and Luther Burbank. ia
NOUS as naturalist and arboriculturist. are
both what the statsticians call old men. but
they do not recognize statistics The dis
coyerer or creator of various spineless and
thornless and seedless fruits Is the junior
of the poet naturalist by ten years. Both
do something every day. and do II well
one more instance TO glorify the genera
ton of as may be pardoned. although not
ing new remains to be said of Elhu Roo
Born in Clinton. n Y, his youth and ear
education were what these things have b tu
I'm the lives of most of his contemporaries
Although he had been admitted to the bar
when he came to New York. what he sought
then was a clerkship, not the opportunity 10
practise and incidentally starve while wal
ing for clients.
Labor. early and late. has been from that