Show OLDEST MAN IN switzerland IF HOELL basel land switzerland may 1897 today this little old fashioned swiss viltage village seems to have forsaken in a great measure its antiquated appearance and to have donned as it were its holiday attire four arches of evergreen trees and I 1 auglis are placed across the sweet street at conspicuous points and each libuse bouse vies with its neighbor in the dis jad of decorations even the manure piles along the street in front ot of the kitchen doors chooro which at other times tuise farmers appear to be proud of are colored with pine boughe the occasion ot of Hoell steins dressing up is is that thommen aen one of its citizens is years old today this celebration has been got up by some thirteen singing clubs representing nearly all the towns in this bezick district A grand concert was given at a 2 in the little church which however would only seat a few besides the singers though seats seals were arranged outside for many more it was a very appropriate way of cheering the old man lor he has been a great singer and lover of music in his day after a welcome anthem by the Ho ellstein choir opening open ng remarks were made by a citizen in he encouraged singing and suggested that it had probably contributed much to lengthen out the life of the man they were honor ing in it was then announced that thommen would sing a song which he had learned ninety years ago to be accompanied compa nied by his nephew who ii i eighth eight four years of age strangers were astonished at the clearness of their voices and the harmony in their song the nephew sang alto the remainder of the program was successfully carried out the songs which were patriotic and peculiar to switzerland were beautifully sung at the close the performers formed a procession headed by a band and marched through town some three weeks ago I 1 visited this harts hans jacob in his home he is pleased to have strangers call upon him and he be cheerfully answered my questions he was born in oen aen canton basel may 1796 1795 he is the oldest person in in the canton camon and probably the oldest in all switzerland his occupation since early childhood has been that of Posa menter ribbon weaver at which he be labored till he was years 0 d he always has been a man of steady habits arising regularly at six in winter and five in summer even now he gets up e early arly and spends the days in the large room where five of his children and grand children are at work at their heir weaving he appears to be comfortable only w hen within sound of the looms 1 he fe read well without glasses up to one year ago since that time however his ight tight t s has become quite dim his memory and reasoning faculties acuities are apparently unimpaired he enjoys good health generally the proceedings of today have been of t special especial interest to me for the reason that my grandmother elizabeth degen was born in this place and lived here until her fifteenth year when in company with her father she emigrated to america in 1816 joining the church of jesus christ of latter day saints with her boband hu band in early nauvoo times she endured many of the hardships connected wi h the of the church and the early settlement of utah in lehi where they lived she was well known for her great faith in the gospel and its ordina ordinances and she often expressed the desire that the gospel be preached to her relatives in switzerland j and the genealogy ene ol of her forefathers be obtainer obtained obtain ef for this purpose I 1 secured permission to spend a few weeks at the close of my mission in this vicinity in my genealogical work here I 1 have Ibave been greatly blessed of th the lord eLord having had tree free access to the church records irom from which I 1 have copied quite a complete record of our progenitors I 1 ibave have been s kindly treated by the relatives who st still R t live here to whom I 1 have delivered the message of the gospel and have given them tracts to read before closing I 1 desire to add that my experience as a missionary in germany although not all sunshine was still in the main main very pleasant and agreeable I 1 was often chagrined at thi the thought of my mv own weaknesses and inability but W was as comfor comforted in seeing the fulfillment of the promise that the lord requires nothing at the hands of his children but what he makes them competent M A testimony has increased very much and I 1 will ever be thankful for this privilege I 1 have had of proving my fidelity to god and the church which he has es ea in this last dispensation the mission is in a prosperous condi i tion the noble band of energetic young elders are accomplishing a great wol k although a serpoui lenou drawback is and has been that so many have had the lan ian 1 guage to learn alter after arriving here HOMER B Fumi FUSHMAN mAX I 1 |