598 THE MOUNTAIN. 



ossified," and "there was not the least symptom of decay to 

 be discovered," and his wife, a widow when he married her, 

 and consequently a woman of knowledge and experience, 

 testified that until his 132d year, when she died, "he had 

 never betrayed any signs of infirmity or age." He was poor, 

 and " maintained himself by daily labor," being "accustomed 

 to thrash," and continued to work to the last. 



Draakenberg was a "seaman," and "spent fifteen years as 

 a slave in Turkey." This sailor was a powerful man, and 

 had the grit in his 130th year to "fall in love with a young 

 country girl," who was foolish enough to reject his pro- 

 posals. " He tried his fortune with several others, but had 

 no better success." This boy of near a century and a half 

 had come in contact with the world, as slave and sailor, and 

 carried the fires of love freshly in his heart till near 150, as 

 his death occurred in his 146th year. 



Effingham died in his 144th year. He was born poor, and 

 brought up to labor from infancy. He was " soldier and 

 corporal," and present at many battles, but "was a day- 

 laborer till his death." 



Stender was 103 at his death. " He was a day-laborer 

 till his death, drank seldom, his food for most part being 

 oatmeal and buttermilk," and "his chief dependence always 

 was in the goodness of God." The list of these ancient 

 men is quite extensive, and their habits of life, original or- 

 ganization, or blood and bone stock, but especially the 

 causes of their longevity, as shown by their modes of exist- 

 ence, are subjects of great interest to the student of man. 



From a critical reading of this hopeful record, we dis- 

 cover that the physical conditions necessary to extreme 

 longevity are an absolute contact with the earth, i.e., sane, 

 rational, physical bond with nature; that long life is only 

 attainable by man's becoming a sound conduit of the per- 

 petually rejuvenizing forces of the world, and that bodily 

 labor, existence in the open air, as of nomads, or wander- 

 ing shepherds, hunters, and fishermen, soldiers and sailors, 

 farmers, gardeners, day -laborers, and the habits of all who 



