She was noted for her cheerful
disposition, and apparently enjoyed life in spite of her
infirmity, which lasted one hundred and twenty-one years.
Macklin the actor was born in 1697 and died in 1797. Several
years before his death he played "Shylock," displaying great
vigor in the first act, but in the second his memory failed him,
and with much grace and solemnity he advanced to the foot-lights
and apologized for his inability to continue. It is worthy of
remark that several instances of longevity in Roman actresses
have been recorded. One Luceja, who came on the stage very young,
performed a whole century, and even made her public appearance in
her one hundred and twelfth year. Copiola was said to have danced
before Augustus when past ninety.
Influence of Stimulants, etc.--There have been men who have
attributed their long lives to their excesses in stimulants.
Thomas Wishart of Annandale, Dumfries, died in 1760 at one
hundred and twenty-four. He had chewed tobacco one hundred and
seventeen years, contracting the habit when a child; his father
gave it to him to allay hunger while shepherding in the
mountains. John de la Somet of Virginia died in 1766 aged one
hundred and thirty. He was a great smoker, and according to Eaton
the habit agreed with his constitution, and was not improbably
the cause of his long health and longevity.
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