Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-19
FRANK PoNcHIN's STORY.

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FRANK PoNcHIN'S STORY.
This is the story OF Frank Poneh-
~, 81, but his years differ from
those OF other men IN thar SIS OF
Them were spent In prison, :,
~ was In 1859 he ilrst entered a.
penltentlary.
Franks story has been told moro
than once, ] went 10 him because
] wanted to know how he had done
II. when II is known that eonyiets
die from consumption after a few
years, or are pardoned out because
they have the disease In its last
stages. or else they so crazy. the
wonder IL how this man managed
to keep healthy in body and mind
for 80 years, 10 live 81 years after
first entering n penitentlary, and 10
attain 81 years OF age,
This is what he told me;
His father lived 10 be 90: his
a long lived stock. Point number
one.
He has always heard that his
~ a long lived one. Point number
two
There had never been n case OF
consumption in the family. Point
number three.
In prison he had always tried to
keep himself well. Many prisoners
eat soap or lye or drink vinegar to
make themselves sick TO avoid tasks.
He figured that by behaving. keep
ing himself physically fit and doing
his allotted tasks he could always
get the reductions for good behavior
and he might get pardoned. More
than eight years reduction OF a 90
year sentence was no small record.
Always tried 10 keep myself
we'll" Point number four.
When he worked at a dusts trade.
such as sandpapering shoe soles or
pounding rock. and he was given
respirator to keep the dust out OF
his nose and mouth. he always wore
Il. Point number five. Remember
that practically all convlcts who die
In prison die from consumption.
When men are put on tasks they
are sometimes forced to work when
they are not in fit condition to work.
because of colds, coughs and other
ills. He kept himself In good health.
and was therefore not overfatigued
when he worked. Point number
six. Consumption is liable to develop
as a result OF overfatigue.
He had never had a cough ana
did not have many colds.
Men with coughs were put IN as
cellmates with men with coughs.
Many Of these coughers were lung
ers. Point number seven.
Especially in the early days the
walls of the cells were frequently
damp. The ventilation in cells was
and still Is very poor. The sunlight
never gets into the cells
BY behaving we'll and making no
trouble he sometimes got a choice
cell. He always tried for one that
got some sunlight. Point NUMBER
eight.
He had no complaint about the
food. In most Of the prisons that
he had lived in in the last 20 years
the food was reasonably good. he
trained himself never to overeat, re-
gardless Of how hungry and tired
he was. This he regarded as point
number nine. ~,
How had he avoided "stir crazy"
His family were not !worriers. he
took things as they -came-never
hoping-never fearing. 1t Is plain
that he has considerable emotionai
stability. Point number 10: so,
He occupied his mind when ldie
in his cell by reading In the cary
DAYS each prisoner was allowed two
tallow candles a week.. rms gave
him seven hours Of reading by arti-
fcial light. Now the lighting is bet
ter. When he had nothing else 10
do he read. Point. number II.
II a man can-reach 81, keeping
healthy physically and mentaiiy'
through 54 years spent In prisoh'
what right have you. to be SICK!
They Are Not Contagious.
T, M. M. writes: II. What causes
fever sores on the lips? l nave
them every winter:
40 Are they contagious!
"3. What is good for them /
REPLY.
Infection Of the nerves by pneu=
mococci or kindred germs, .-....
2. No. .,,,;oo
cold, To DO tnls, ldho u' -.
baths. followed by vigorous ruos'
keep out of doors as much as pos
sible. o,, won.
tilated room; do not overeat. ~
TO cure. apply any simple % ONT
ment. such as oxide Of zinc salye.
Take purgative.
How Golf-Itis Starts.
s D. writes: have baby sister
1s 10 months old. She started u
walk at II months. She walks Al
day and hardly takes rest. she
is slightly bow-legged.
"Please tell me what can be done
to cure her." ,
Eleven months is a little early ror
80 much pedestrianism. Can you
entertain, her in other POSITIONS
than those of a pedestrian?
Are there any other signs OF rick
cts? If that is all, probably you
need do nothing except to keep her
off her feet.
Most mild cases of ricketts, are