He lived for one hundred and eighty years in one village
and died at the age of one hundred and eighty-seven, or, as
another authority has it, one hundred and eighty-five. A few days
before his death he had walked a mile to wait at the post-office
for the arrival of travelers and to ask for succor, which, on
account of his remarkable age, was rarely refused him. He had
lost nearly all his teeth and his beard and hair were white. He
was accustomed to eat a little cake the Hungarians call
kalatschen, with which he drank milk. After each repast he took a
glass of eau-de-vie. His son was living at ninety-seven and his
descendants to the fifth generation embellished his old age.
Shortly before his death Count Wallis had his portrait painted.
Comparing his age with that of others, we find that he was five
years older than the Patriarch Isaac, ten more than Abraham,
thirty-seven more than Nahor, sixteen more than Henry Jenkins,
and thirty-three more than "old Parr."
Sundry Instances of Great Age.--In a churchyard near Cardiff,
Glamorganshire, is the following inscription: "Here lieth the
body of William Edwards, of Cacreg, who departed this life 24th
February, Anno Domini 1668, anno aetatis suae one hundred and
sixty-eight.
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