The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1930-09-05

out the belief that none of those men,
toned are anywhere near the age
claimed for them. Recently the New
York World expressed its doubt that
FARO Agha was 156 years old and
quoted the chief actuary of the New
York Life Insurance company to the
effect that no authentic record exists
of a human life longer than JOG years.
"Centenarians are and have always
been extremely scarce. There were
only slightly more than 1000 people
in the United States in the last CEN
sus who claimed to have attained that
age. But it is significant that of this
number almost 5000 were negroes;
close to 1900 negro women said they
were 100 years old or over. Although
negro females form only 5 per cent
of the total population, they give the
country half it's centenarians!
"On its face, such a situation is
highly improbable, and while we are
not questioning the honesty of those
who make the claim, we strongly sus-
pect that in the great majority of
cases they are mistaken as to the ex-
act number of years they have lived.
Many of the old negro people are il
literate, and nearly all of them lack
authentic records giving the date of
their birth.
"In fact, we find that wherever rec
ords are absent centenarians rise up
and flourish. Turkey and the Balkans
have long been a happy hunting
ground for centenarians, in spite of
the fact that conditions of life are
very hard and public health standards
are exceedingly low. The claims to
extreme old age are nearly always
appealing fictions.
'In my opinion, authentic centenari-
ans are so few in America that they
can be counted on the fingers of ones
two hands,"
Perhaps most interesting Of all "au-
thentic centenarians" which this coun-
Cole. In 1922 the New York Times
| printed an interview with him in
which he is described thus:
I'm 1S47 young Cornelius Cole then
| twenty-four years old, received his
| degree of bachelor of arts from Wes-
! leyan university. A short time later
came rumors of the gold discovery in
| California and with a half dozen
| friends he set out to make his for
tune. In 1922, Cornelius Cole, sole
survivor of his class, preparing to
celebrate his hundredth birthday on
| September II, received an invitation
| from his alma mater to come to Mid.
| dletown, Conn.,, and receive an honor.
airy LII. D. In spite of opposition from
friends and members of his family
who thought the journey too arduous
| for a centenarian, he came, bringing
with him recollections which went
back to the thrilling days of 40, and
an active legal life that included q
friendship with Lincoln, place in
both houses of congress, an interest
ing part in the purchase of Alaska
| to say nothing of a live interests in
events of today.
| Cornelius Cole, centenarian, for.
mer senator from California and ma
tive of Seneca county, New York
| seems scarcely more than Is. His face
is sun Drowned and unwrinkled. He is
active and robust and will sooner
! offer his arm to woman when cross
ing a mean spot in the road than tc
| think of taking hers. His memory is
surprising, his outlook young, and his
comments when not serious are col
ored by sense of humor that a mar
half his age might envy"
Ex-senator Cole died November 3
1924. at the age of 102. The record
in his case is clear. But considering
the fact that it would have been easy
enough to check up on the facts, il
seems remarkable that in 1924 many
newspapers printed the picture Of
Maj. Edward James Monroe, son Of
the fifth President of the United
States, who is feeling fit at the age
of 109." The only difficulty with this
story is that President Monroe hac
two daughters but no son!
Stories of persons who claim Il
have lived more than 100 years are
numerous, but few Of these cases will
stand up under rigid investigation, &C
ording to James A. Toby, writing in ,
recent issue Of the Scientific Ameri
can, who says that the age Of very
old person seems to be one Of thu
matters most susceptible to deviation