RECIPE FOR OLD AGE

Waikato Times, Volume 116, Issue 19430, 3 December 1934, Page 8

RECIPE FOR OLD AGE

MODERATION THE KEY.

HAMILTON NONAGENARIAN.

“THINGS MOVING TOO FAST.’*

PIONEER’S RECOLLECTIONS. The opinion that drinking and smoking are a “curse," that picture theatres are “schools of the devil," and that the untimely deaths of many people are due to faulty diet is held by Mr Thomas Took, of Claude Street, Ciaudelands, aged 93 years, whom's Waikato Times reporter consulted the other day in search of a recipe for attaining a healthy old age. Mr Took is a typical representative • of tne hardy old pioneers and is proud of his Victorianism. It'seems that as a young man he was very much like most young men and had been known to take a glass of beer and smoke a cigarette without the matter preying much on his conscience. “But 47 years ago I was saved by man from the London Tabernacle antS I saw the light," Mr Took informed

the inquirer. “Since that day I have not touched a drop -of liquor nor smoked a shred ,of tobacco. They are a curse. My eldest diughter (aged 72) has never tasted liquor in her life," he added proudly.

Retires Without a Light.

“Tilings are moving too fast nowadays,” he went on. “Why. I can remember Hie Crimean War and cl home we had neither candles nor fuei. I still go to bed without a light. I never eat more than one meal a day and I would eat bread a fortnight old sooner than new. What’s more, I never eat butter. There is no doubt that the old times were the best. People were far healthier and the rising generation were content to stay at home instead of rushing round in these mad motor-cars and going to pictures." When Mr Took was reminded that recently two men flew from England to Australia in three days he asserted that that achievement and many others to-day were all predicted in the Bible thousands of years ago. Honesty and moderation in all habits are the two essentials to a long and happy life in Mr Took’s opinion. Neither himself, his father, grandfather, nor any of his family had ever been involved in anything dishonest and this made for much peace of mind and happiness. He also attributed his longevity to the fact; that he had been a teetotaller for nearly half-a-century and a moderate eater.

“No, I have never been to a pictureshow,” the old man confessed, "but I know they are schools of the devil; they are Ailing our gaols with boys and girls."

A Great-Great Grandfather.

Mr Took is a great-great-grand**/ father arid states that he has over 100 \ descendants, but he-has “lost count.” The ages of his Ave children total 312 years, the eldest being 72 and the youngest 54. It”was in 1876'—nearly 60 years ago—that Mr Took with his wife and child arrived in Auckland. As a young man he followed the occupation of a market gardener in London and Surrey. He was sent out by Sir James Fergusson, father of Sir Charles Fergusson, a former Gover-nor-General of New Zealand, to All the position of stockman and shepherd on the Gordon Estate, near Cambridge, which then comprised some 17,000 acres. Arriving on«; the City of Auckland Mr Took went by train from Auckland to Mercer, where the line ended. He then proceeded by coach' to Cambridge, through the fern and bracken which covered the greater part of what are now smiling pastures.

After spending a few years on the Gordon Estate Mr Took took up contracting work on the late Mr E. B. Walker’s estate at Monavale and also worked on the Woodlands estate in the late Mr John McNicol’s time. From there he, drifted to Thame's (where he was engaged on the waterworks), to Tauwhare, and Te Aroha, which he remembers at the times of the gold rush, when the v "town" was almost entirely composed of tents.

Knew Famous Preacher.

Over a long period of years Mr Took accepted work, mostly of an agricultural character wherever it Was offering in the Waikato. He has resided in Hamilton over, the last ii years and is in full possession of all his faculties, although his eyesight is not as good as it was and he gave up reading the newspaper live years ago. One of his proudest memories is hist friendship with Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous preacher. Mr Took was also acquainted with his father and grandfather and his brother, Sir Thomas Spurgeon. Throughout his life, following his conversion, .Mr Took has remained a staunch Baptist and some years ago was a frequent attendant and preacher at street corner. meetings. Polotically,' he has always been a. loyal Conservative. Mrs R. McLeod, of Hamilton, his eldest • daughter, with whom he resides, was the first woman to have her marriage registered in Cambridge and the- birth of his son James was the first to be registered there. Over half-a-century ago Mr Took used to shop regularly at Mr P. Le Quesne s store at Hamilton East and whenever business took him to Hamilton West the river had to be crossed in a punt. Many a time he took large droves of sheep over the river in a punt and up Victoria Street. Mr Took comes from a long-living family. His father died at 95, while his grandfather was also over 9® when tiis deatli occurred.