Letter from Rufus R. Wilson, 11 July 1893
52 Lafayette Place New York .
Dear Sir:
I have been commissioned by a number of leading journals to prepare an
article on "The Longevity of Noted Americans," and the reasons therefor,
and it would greatly aid me in my purpose if you would kindly give brief
answers to the follwing questions:
1. Were you strong or delicate in youth, and how much of that period of
your life did you spend in the open air? {[Strong] in youth; spent most the time in the open air}
2. Was your health favorably influenced by any special manner of living
while young? {Regular diet consisted of plain food; worked hard on farm and in flouring mill}
3. What changes in your daily habits did you make on the approach of a
ripe old age? {None particularly, excepting that I did not work so hard, but I work all the same}
4. What have been your recreations in recent years? {None excepting fishing}
5. How long do you sleep? lie in bed about 8 hours
6. What are your habits with regard to taking food? {Meals 3 times a day; [illegible shorthand] the [pleasure] of a good potato I enjoy all kinds of food}
7. To what reason do you primarily ascribe your healthy old age (in
which may God long preserve you)? {An honest and industrious life; retire early and rise early, with the blessing of Almighty God. [illegible shorthand]}
Many noted men and women have already favored me with answers to the
above, and, as my projected paper would be incomplete without a reference to
you, I sincerely hope you will do the same. I AM ESPECIALLY ANXIOUS FOR AN
ANSWER TO THE SEVENTH AND LAST QUESTION. An early answer will greatly oblige.
Yours respectfully,
Rufus R Wilson
Mr. Wilford Woodruff
