Show HALE AND HEARTY AT john durant a sailor boy of ninety years ago celebrates his birthday london john durant entered the british navy years ago he was fourteen then but he Is etall enjoying life at where be entered upon his one hundred and fifth year during the winter he spends most of the time in his bedroom but in the summer he walks abroad for conald erable distances lie Is a very hearty eater and smokes three ounces of tobacco regularly every week special fare was provided for his delectation to mark the great occasion of bis one hundred and fourth birthday when the news came that franklin was lost in the arctic circle in 1835 durant volunteered for the search ex tion but be did not call on the 11 fated terror he withdrew and went to the west indies instead in 1842 he entered the service of tho south metropolitan gas company as a bargeman and after 40 years of work retired on a pension which he has now enjoyed for 32 years |