A VIGOROUS WORKER YET.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 8928, 17 December 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

A VIGOROUS WORKER YET.

JOHN ERICSSON SAYS HE IS JUST AS STRONG AT EIGHTY-FoUR Ay EVER HE WAS. John Ericson the great inventor, recently sent to Mr, Samuel Browning, of Epsom, who is a vory old friend of his, a copy of the New York Herald of August 1, containing an account of an interview, as follows It was no dotard's clasp of the hand with which John Ericsson greeted a reporter of the Herald who called upon him yoaterday. It was the nervous, strong grasp of ripened manhood, and the visitor, gazing upon the compaot, well knit frame of the man who stood smiling before him, could scarcely rea» liae that he who was the subject of his scrutiny had passed the allotted age of man by full fourteen years of vigorous life and well spent endeavour. Yesterday the great inventor completed his eighty-fouth year of existence, and yet not he then seemed not more than sixty, and showed all the energy and activity of a man of middle age. The large and plainly furnished reception room of the house on Beach street which for many years has been Captain Ericsson's home was enshrouded in poetical darkness. The shutters were closed, and coming suddenly into the room from the sunlit street the reporter was unable at first clearly to discern the objects contained in it. It was some minutes, however, before the inventor made his appearance, and by that time the eyes of the visitor had become accustomed to the dim light. So it was tha!; he was enabled to note the vigorous appearance of his host when he entered the room. "I suppose," said Captain Ericsson, "you have called to see how I look on my eightyfourth birthday—whether I have grown old and decrepit in appearance or not ? " Well, here I am, and I don't look very old, do I?" "No, you do not." " Nor do I feel old either. I work fourteen hours a day, and frequently until eleven o'clock at night, and I do not mind it in the least. I do not get tired, and I feel as strong,' mentally and physically, as I ever did in my life. In fact, I think my intellect is even clearer than it was fifteen or twenty years ago. I really find that problems presenting themselves for my consideration are much more quickly solved now than they were then. My mind works more readily and clearly." "And you say you are strong bodily, too ' " Certainly, I can do as much labour, I toll you, as ever I could." " Well, what is the secret of it all ?" " A. regular and temperate lifoand seusible choice of food. My work is regularly apportioned ; I have always eschewed the use of intoxicants and tobacco, and I eat very little meat. Bread is my chief food, and that is tho real staff of life. It nourishes the brain aa well as tho body. Then I drink a good deal of milk, with a soupgon of tea to give it flavour, and vegetables enter largely into my diet." "Have you had many callers and telegrams to-day ?" "Yea, but then you know, I don't encourage congratulations to any extent. I like to receive and hear from friends, but that's all." Captain Ericsson then went on to speak of his work, and said that he hoped to effect much good to mankind by his sun motor and a device which he has just perfected and patented for the better utilisation of steam power in mechanics. He bade the reporter a pleasant " Goodbye," adding that he looked to many more birthday anniversaries.