SECRET OF LONG LIFE.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXV, Issue 38, 13 February 1904, Page 3 (Supplement)

SECRET OF LONG LIFE.

HOW TO Ura-iJO TWO HUSDBED A.ND FIFTY. A curious-looking man of strange naiits and with a mission that is even stranger has jnst arrived la London from Ascona, on Lake Maggiore, Switzerland. He has taken Tip his residence in the vicinity of •Colney Hatch lane, N., ami he believes that in abstinence from salt and water lies the secret of long life. Herr Josepfli Salomonson, the gentleman in question, wanders about the North London highways wearing a cassock of brown corduroy encircled at the waist by a girdle. Hie long ibrown, wispy hair, unencumbered by hat, hides his collarless neck, and a ragged-edged beard droops over the open part of his sown. His feet are encased in sandals, and at times he carries a staff that reaches to his shoulders. Altogether his appearance is reminiscent of figures in ■Scriptural illustrations. Herr Snlomonson's object is to try to induce London's sis million inhabitants to refrain from eating salt and drinking liquids —all manner of liquids, ev-eu water. He himself, so he asserts, has not taken any kind of liquid since September 1. 1901, and he has eschewed salt for a longer period. At Ascona he has established a colony of devoted disciples, male and female, who do likewise. Moreover, they work in a state of primitive absence of attire, separated by wooden partitions, and when nhe weather permits they even sleep in this state on the bare ground. Herr Salomonson appreciates the difficulty of this part of his programme being carried out in London. "But," he ( explained, "there are plenty of suitable sites within an hour's railway journey from the City." He saw no reason, however, why London should not at once abandon the eating of salt and the drinking of liquids. "Salt." he averred, "is the beginning of all evil. It is ruinons to the body, damaging to the soul, and destructive of the intellect. Water or any other form of liquid is a mere burden to the stomach and has no value at all." In shorf, Herr Salomonson. who is a man of considerable intelligence, believes that if. people followed his example there would be no sickness. During the 26 months that no drop has passed his lips he has lost in weight 621b, but feels many years younger and much stronger. "There is not a sound man in the world," he declared, "and yet people who eat salt and drink water live to be as old as ninety or even a hundred. When we live a na'furaJ life I see no reason why we should not attain to 200 or 250 years. I believe in the ages mentioned in the Bible, and I believe we should live as long in. these days if we Hved on the lines intended for humanity. That is jnjf mission here,"