The New York herald., 1921-05-11
Count Greppi's 102 Years.

When Count GIUsEPpI GREPPI.
whose death on Monday at the age
Of 102 Is reported from Milan, was
IL years old he was a page of honor
to MARIE LOUISE. the Austrian con-
sort of NAPOLEON and then ruler or
Parma. He was a peculiarly interest
ing link between the Napoleonic era
and the present in that he received
in his youth the direct heritage of the
period, lived through the changes and
vicissltudes Of a century and had a
diplomatic part in the reconstruc-
tion Of Europe.
Even as a boy of eleven Count
GREPPI must have received an ex-
tremely useful training from his career
at the small court of Parma, for 1t
was then the centre of an almost con-
stant italian intrigue and struggle
between French and Austrian infiu-
ences. At the end Of ten years of
court service he came under the direct
leadership of METTERNIcH, then at
the height Of his power. GREppI saw
HIM manipulating the strings which
held reactionary Europe at his COM
mand, and he lived also to see what
few Of METTERNIcH's disciples saw,
that this master Of craft and shrewd-
ness did not have grasp Arm enough
to hold Italy in vassalage to the Haps-
burgs, or to join together the vari-
Gus conflicting interests Of Austria
Hungary into a unit which would
withstand the supreme test Of world
war; The master rusted out at Sc,
still vainly hoping that fate would
give him more time to even up with
his political enemies. GREPPI, the
pupil, had his whole career after the
masters overthrow, almost man. al
lotted threescore years and ten in
which to serve his country.
Count GREPPI's life in many re-
spects was what the world would call
an easy one; he was man of wealth
and social position; he had all the ad-
yantages Of his official post to enjoy
the interesting and entertaining am
bassadorial society Of European CAPT
tails. He was, in fact, in very differ
ent position from that of many persons
who have reached advanced years and
have attributed their longevity to the
simplicity Of their living and their
remoteness from the urban centres.
The conditions of locality or the social
surroundings and activities are not
alone determining factors in old age.
Another example Of this is furnished
by MICHEL EUGENE CHEvREUL, the
famous French chemist, who died in
1889 at the age of 103. Much of his
life was spent In Paris; he was a
strong opponent to the last to shams,
scientific and otherwise; he enjoyed
social activities and on his one hum
dredth birthday was honored with the
degree of Ii. d. by Harvard Univer-
sity and accepted it with a sense Of
great qualification.
The usefulness of both these men
was prolonged by the preservation of
their interest in all human affairs
When the time came that many men
thought was the end of their activity
and the beginning of their period of
retirement they both refused to accept
the worlds decree. In 1914, when
Count GREPPI was 95, he took promi-
nent part, as befitted the dean OF di-
plomatists, In the meeting IF the In
ternational Society of the History of
Diplomacy at Paris. He remained to
the last an italian Senator and In very
recent years eagerly participated in
the deliberations and debates Of
the Senate.
"a diplomat and a gentleman" was
the tribute paid him years ago by his
American colleague Mt Petrograd. He
lived up to his reputation. No great
premiere at the Grand Opera in Rome
or the Scala, Milan, was with
out his proeance. His dinner on his
one hundredth birthday was one OF
the memorable social events Of Rome.
And ii is perfectly in keeping with his
character that on the day before his
death he should be found In the midst
Of the gay. Fashionable, colorful MI.
anese crowd at the races.