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Tuesday, July 29, 2014

James Perminter, Age 103, Is Still Dancing, 1907

“Dances at 103” reprinted in the Watauga Democrat, Thursday, July 25, 1907

“I wish you would say for the benefit of certain papers and people who seem inclined to doubt the age and activeness of Mr. James Perminter,” said a citizen to a Chronicle reporter to-day, “that as I understand it his age is a matter of record, and his activity is too well known here for any kind of doubt.”

“That reminds me,” said the reporter, “that some one said the old man is not only active, but that he was seen dancing at the Veterans’ reunion at Richmond.”

“Certainly,” said the gentleman being spoken to. “I saw that and called the attention of several people to it at the time. It was up there in Saenger Hall one morning at the band concert when everybody was having a good time, and they struck up Dixie Weil. It would have made you feel good way down in your shoes to have seen our Mr. Bob Winchester, inspector squirrel-feeder policeman, swing corners with old man Perminter and the two skip around the floor like 16 year old boys.”

“And the old man can dance as well?” ventured the reporter.

“He certainly can, and get around better than many men I know that are not over 60 years. And while we are talking about active old people, I am reminded that the man who wanted to kill all the old men at 60 years, Dr. Osler, has now come out and given soup the black eye. Well, I am only hoping that he will prove as far off in condemning good soup as he was in his chloroform operation on old men. You see such cases as our dancing 103-year-old citizen, and a number of others around here make Dr. Osler feel like 30 cents.
                --Charlotte Chronicle

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