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Show GIVEN CREDIT FOR LONG LJFE Inscription on Tombstone Made Mar Rival of Methusaleh. "In memory of Adam Shlslor, who departed this life December tho 22d 1777, aged 9G9 years." This Inscription, startling, Indeed, nt first glance, appears on n tombstone In tho old Upper burying ground, on the cast side of Main streot nbovo Washington lane, Gcrmantown. Tho strangor would naturally suppose sup-pose thnt ho had discovered a rival tw Methusalch's nge record. Hut the natives na-tives would soon relieve him of that Idea. Shlslcr's tombstone Is well known In Qcrmnntown. It Is ono of tho first objects of childish curiosity. Hence ovory one knows Its history. This Is how It Is accounted for: When Shlslor died ho wns CD years old. Tho marble cutter who Inscribed tho stone no historical records tell who ho wns mndo tho mistake of reversing re-versing tho numerals, nnd Inscribed tho ngo ns OC. Then, to rectify the error, ho inscribed a 9 nfter tho C, und filled tho first 9 with mortnr, making mak-ing the nge read 09. Dut the ravages ot tlmo nnd tho storms of years finally wore nway tho mortar, nnd for over half n century j Germantown's Methuselah. tho ilrst figure hns been vlsiblo, making mak-ing Shlslcr apparently tho oldest man who over lived. I Adam Shlslor wns no doubt an early settler, although ho 1b not mentioned In nny of tho historical records. His wife, Annn Margaret, who died two years after, Is burled bcsldo him. Tho stones nt tho head of tho graves aro . still inscriptions can easily ho discerned. discern-ed. Philadelphia North American. |