PAST THE HUNDRED YEARS

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 September 1938, Page 5

PAST THE HUNDRED YEARS

PEOPLE WHO REMAIN CHEERFUL

“I'd hate to live to-be old and helpless," you hear people say. And they shake their heads gloomily, these sagos of the twenties, thirties, forties, and add: “Life simply can't be worth living after SO years of age, now can it?’’ "

Well, there was only one way to find out —ask the old;timers themselves. So I decided to interview some centenarians and seek, their opinion about this question of how to be happy — though old ( writes Robert Reade in an English journal).

The first, centenarian I consulted was the oldest working man in the world —Mr. Roderick MacDonald, 105 years of age, and the spry and active harbour-master of Richibucto. Nev; Brunswick, Canada.

His post is no sinecure. He does not dodder about his (ask. Daily Mr. MacDonald is to be found climbing up and down the gangplanks of ocean freighters. He is an efficient harbourmaster.

Mr. MacDonald was born in Antignish, Nova. Scotia, in 1832. He has a family Bible which gives his age at. the time of his third- marriage in June, 1879, as 46. That same age. is on his third marriage certificate, and, as he was 47 on his birthday in August two months later —that is 58 years ago—it makes him 105 to-day. He was blacksmith, business proprietor, county tax collector, roadmaster, and took an active part in politics in the course of his long life. He confesses that one of the secrets of his longevity is his keen interest in public que.st.ions and in elections. Today he says that his rule about sleep compels him lo leave political meetings before they get warmed up. “For more than a quarter of a century,’ he says, “1 have gone to bed at 9.30 p.m. I believe that restful sleep can never he obtained after midnight. “I eat a light breakfast, of oatmeal porridge with a glass of milk, and never more than one cup ol tea. 1 have a light lunch with a pint of milk, and a fairly good supper. For good health and long living my tip is milk. I am sure the use of it will prolong life, health, and the appearance of youth.” “No meat, for me,” he says. 1 stick to natural foods—fruits, grains, vegetables, and I make surc‘ the cook doesn’t boil the life out of them! 1 believe also that the amount we eat is very important. Most people eat. far too mucin “For many years,” said the oldest working man, “I have systematically yawned and stretched myself on rising, and have kept it. up nt intervals through the day. A gloomy outlook on life. 1 believe, is largely caused by an amount, of stagnant blood in the brain. Yawning and stretching keep the blood active. “Finally,” he. adds cheerfully, ‘a smile a day. even more than an apple, keeps the doctor away. 1 never worry.” Statistics show that women, on the average, are longer-lived than men. and that more of them reach and pass the century mfirk. Yugoslavia provided proof of this. Last year there were reported to be over 4,000 centenarians. of whom 2,776 were women. Let us ask the women of 100 and over what they think. Mrs. Catherine Hanning, born in Tipperary in IS-.b, is full of an irrepressible, gaiety. M> secret of long living," she says, “is simply this —1 never had a quarrel. Mrs. Mary Phillips, born in Glasgow in 1537, can still quote the Bible _ and Bobbie Burns extensively. Her hearing has not failed her, and she enjoys listening to broadcasts. Believe it or not. the first time Mrs. Agnes Young, of Ballinafad. Ontaiio, was ever ill was on her 105th biithdaj. And she has never lost, her faith in the virtue of a cup of tea and a little gossip! , , . Gcoiwe Laramee. 100 years old, and a. cousing of Sir Wilfred Laurier, gives his recipe for living: — “[ have always got up early and worked hard. I never take a nap in the afternoon, as it. spoils my sleep at night. I have never married —and 1 wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what has kept me living so long! ••1 can still see well enough to dig. chop wood, and walk the hind leg off a mule.” _ ‘•Grandma" Quatum. born in Norway a. century ago, has always vorn a handkerchief over her head inmead ot a. hat. She attributes her long life to simple living, and by that she means strong black coffee and well-greased doughnuts.