When the census of the United States was taken in 1900 it was ascertained that there were 6,298 persons between the ages of ninety-five and ninety-nine. Of this number, 2,432 were men, of whom 618 were foreign born. Of the 3,866 women, 813 were of foreign birth. Those whose ages were one hundred years or upwards, numbered 3,536 - men, 1,289, women, 2,247 - the foreign born being 191 and 228 respectively.

It will be seen that far more women than men have attained the rank of centenarians. This is true in England, France, and Germany, as well as in the United States. The reason is obvious. Women, as a rule, are freer from mental worry and exposure to the various casualties, indiscretions, and other causes to which illness and untimely death are so often due. It is a fact of common interest that with rarely an exception, all the centenarians had been married. The concensus of opinion among them is that marriage promotes longevity. Only one woman of the many centenarians interviewed on this point, was opposed to that opinion.

Miss Eliza Work of Henrietta, New York, lived one hundred and five years. She gave only two reasons why she lived so long: Because she never had drank tea or coffee; and, "above all," to use her own words, "I never got married." Her brother lived to see his one hundred and first birthday, but his sister was obstinate in holding to the opinion that he would have lived much longer had he never drank tea and coffee, and remained single. "People," she said, "who drink such things, and then aggravate the matter by getting married, ought not to expect to live long."

Of some of the many women who lived to pass the century milestone, it is worth while to make special mention. Mrs. Sylvia L. Dunham, who was born in Connecticut, in 1800, is widely known as "The Grand Old Woman," of that state. Up to 1904 she took care of a gar den, and never failed to take daily exercise in the open air when the weather permitted. She was careful of her habits, using only simple, nourishing food, and never took stimulants of any kind. Her tranquility of mind was remarkable.

Mrs. Dunham lived to enjoy the enthusiasm attending twenty-two presidential campaigns. The incidents of her life which she regards with greatest pride and pleasure are: Bom July seventeenth, 1800; at five years of age rode in a stage coach; at forty, in a canal boat; at ninety-nine, in an electric car; at one hundred, in an automobile.

Another centenarian of American production was Mrs. Deborah Powers of Lansingburgh, New York. She was the wife of William Powers, an oilcloth manufacturer, who lost his life in 1852 by the accidental burning of varnish. After her husband's death, Mrs. Powers succeeded him in the business, and took into partnership her son, Albert E. Powers, who is now eighty-seven years old, and is still working. The firm was known as D. Powers & Son, for the continuing of the family enterprises. She gave the vast business her personal attention, and established a bank in connection with the oilcloth factory, and amassed a large fortune. She re tained her vigor of mind and body as head of the firm until her death in May, 1891, at the age of one hundred and one years.

It was by no patent right that Mrs. Powers was able to live beyond a century. While she was a woman of unusual energy and ability, and labored diligently, she was the embodiment of wisdom in caring for her health. She understood from the beginning of her extraordinary career, that health is the soul that animates the body and makes success in life possible.

Mrs. Polly Mays died at her home in Franklin County, Maryland, in December, 1898, at the authenticated age of one hundred and eleven years. Her health and physical vigor were well preserved up to within a few months of her translation. Three months prior to that time, Mrs. Mays climbed a steep mountain, and could walk a mile or more with but little fatigue. Her youngest child was sixty-six years old, and her eldest was eighty at the time of her death.

It does not appear from the record that longevity was a feature of Mrs. Mays' family. She was wise in her manner of living. She enjoyed life; and in her sphere, though it was humble, it was a life worth while. Her extreme old age was one of happiness, and brought great pleasure to her household.

Recently the citizens of Fayette, Ohio, manifested their appreciation of an old resident who had rounded out the full measure of one hundred years - Mrs. Amelia Du Bois. The public schools closed that the children might join in the festivities of the occasion. Hundreds of scholars, teachers, and prominent citizens assembled at the opera house where appropriate exercises took place.

This demonstration was not prompted solely by the fact that Mrs. Du Bois had lived a century. She is an exceptional centenarian. Every faculty of her mind is alert and responsive. Her life is full of sweet contentment, and therefore she is a joy to the household. She is an accomplished needle-woman, and devotes much of her time in preparing gifts for her friends.

The crossing of the century line cannot, in most cases, be attributable to "good luck." As a rule, behind such lives are a purpose and a mode of living which count for much in the attainment of extreme old age. Here is another case illustrative of this fact.

Miss Rachel Martense of New York City was one hundred and three years old in 1904, and except for a dislocated knee, she could walk about the house without trouble. As a shrewd observer of humanity she has lost none of her acuteness of former years. Many times people called at her home in Flatbush Avenue, and out of curiosity would ask to see the centenarian. When their names were announced, the old lady would smile and remark: "They think they're going to see a mummy, but they'll find I haven't lost my wits yet."

When Miss Martense was interviewed by press representatives, on her one hundred and third birthday, she was cheery and talkative, and as to the care of her health, she said:

"I never tried hard to live to be even one hundred years old. I took good care of myself, kept early hours, ate plain, well-cooked food, and let nothing worry me at all. I think that is the secret of my age.

"Then, again, when I was young I did not dress in what was called the height of fashion. I liked plenty of room in my clothes so that I could breathe deeply and not be encumbered by a lot of clothing. I never did any tight lacing.

"I did such work as came to my hand, and did it uncomplainingly. I spent much of my time out of doors and never took any intoxicating drinks. I always had my food boiled when I possibly could and avoided rich foods of all kinds. I never cared for rich foods and rich gravies. I always liked to eat plenty of fruit and drink milk. I never overrate in any way, and was not very fond of sweets.

"I think any person can live to a ripe old age who will do a fair share of work and refuse under all conditions to do any worrying. Early in life I discovered that it does not pay to worry."

Evidently Miss Martense's splendid temperament and abounding good humor contributed very largely to her health and length of years. At the time of the interview she was as sweet and amiable as when in the full strength of womanhood.

Among English centenarians of recent times was Mrs. Elizabeth Hanbury, who passed away at Richmond, in October, 1901, having attained the age of one hundred and eight years. Miss Sanderson was bora of Quaker parentage, in London, in June, 1793. When the celebrated Elizabeth Fry began the systematic visiting of Newgate prison, Miss Sanderson joined her in the labor and continued the work for many years. She was especially assiduous in visiting convict ships for women; and was associated with other leaders in many branches of reform, benevolent, and philanthropic work.

After her marriage, in 1826, to Cornelius Hanbury, she spent much of her time among the prisoners in Stoke Newington; and on one occasion when she was pleading before the Home Secretary for the life of a poor prisoner, she was met with the reply: "Mrs. Hanbury, I can not alter the law; but, if I were accused, I should like to have you plead for me."

In the course of time Mrs. Hanbury became an acknowledged minister among the Friends. During her long life she maintained a deep interest in religious and benevolent undertakings, and was able to do much reading and writing after she passed her one hundredth year.

Mrs. Margaret Anne Neve, whose life measured one hundred and ten years, died in England in 1903. Her last thirty or forty years were not simply an existence, as many might suppose, but were lived for a purpose. She always had something to do. She never lacked resources. She was past one hundred before she ever thought of going into retirement.

When Mrs. Neve was ninety years old she set out alone for Cracow, in Austria-Hungary, to see the memorial erected to Kosciuszko, the famous Polish patriot and general. After her one hundredth birthday she walked to and from church regularly. For forty years after she reached three score years and ten she was able to do what many men and women of to-day would hesitate to do at half her age.

A great many who have attained extreme longevity have no other claims to distinction, but it was different with Mrs. Neve, says the London Spectator. She was a useful woman to the day of her death. Her life was so orderly in all things - and here is the beauty of it - that "she lived in joyful contemplation of the happiness of the past." She could freely comprehend the beautiful sentiment of the Prophet Zechariah, "At evening time it shall be light"; and out of her own heart could believe with Lord Bacon that above all, the sweetest canticle is Nunc Dimittis - "Now let Thou Thy servant depart in peace."