Curds v. Letters

One credo of most Americans is that Bulgarians live to be centenarians because they drink quantities of fermented buttermilk. Many a sallow clerk and skinny stenographer, impressed with the idea, gulps down some form of cultured lactose at lunch. Last week came different news about Bulgar longevity.

One Henry A. Diez, Vienna newspaper correspondent, investigating the cases of ''158 persons who can prove they are more than 100 years old," reported that illiteracy--U. S. bugbear--seemed quite as effective as curds in keeping Bulgars alive.

"Education," wrote Correspondent Diez. "is not a thing that matters when one wishes to outlive one's fellows. On the contrary, it seems that illiteracy keeps off a lot of excitements that may have a weakening influence. Of all Bulgarian centenarians, only twelve can read and write.''

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