In class, Walter Jameson, Kittridge's colleague for twelve years and future son-in-law, reads from a Civil War journal of Major Hugh Skelton. Kittridge is riveted by Jameson's reading - an account of the burning of Atlanta. He discusses the diary after class with Jameson and invites him to dinner that night.That evening, as Jameson crosses the lawn to his home across the street from Kittridge's, he is observed by an old woman.Kittridge is very proud of his daughter, Susanna, who is immersed in her studies and cautions Jameson that he is giving her hand to him, not her mind. Nevertheless, he will not allow much socializing. After supper, he sends her up to her room and her books.As they resume a game of chess, Kittridge examines his colleague's hands and how different they look compared to his own. He asks Jameson how old he is. Jameson tells him he's 41, but Kittridge confronts him with the fact that he had given his age as 39 when he joined the university staff in 1947. He wonders why his friend does not seem to have aged at all. He pulls out a book of Matthew Brady photographs and shows Jameson a picture of General Sherman's staff, including Major Hugh Skelton. Down to the ring on his finger and a mole on his face, he is Jameson's perfect double. Jameson is forced to admit he is the same man.Jameson explains that two thousand years ago, he was obsessed with living longer. He searched out the experts, but no one could help him until an alchemist took a great deal of his money and subjected Jameson to his experiments. Jameson isn't certain exactly how it happened but that he nearly died of the experiments. Believing they had failed, he went on living his life only to watch his friends and relatives age and die while he remained the same.Kittridge, an old man afraid of dying, doesn't understand Jameson's weariness about this remarkable feat. His friend explains that death is what makes life worth living. He watch
In class, Walter Jameson, Kittridge's colleague for twelve years and future son-in-law, reads from a Civil War journal of Major Hugh Skelton. Kittridge is riveted by Jameson's reading - an account of the burning of Atlanta. He discusses the diary after class with Jameson and invites him to dinner that night.That evening, as Jameson crosses the lawn to his home across the street from Kittridge's, he is observed by an old woman.Kittridge is very proud of his daughter, Susanna, who is immersed in her studies and cautions Jameson that he is giving her hand to him, not her mind. Nevertheless, he will not allow much socializing. After supper, he sends her up to her room and her books.As they resume a game of chess, Kittridge examines his colleague's hands and how different they look compared to his own. He asks Jameson how old he is. Jameson tells him he's 41, but Kittridge confronts him with the fact that he had given his age as 39 when he joined the university staff in 1947. He wonders why his friend does not seem to have aged at all. He pulls out a book of Matthew Brady photographs and shows Jameson a picture of General Sherman's staff, including Major Hugh Skelton. Down to the ring on his finger and a mole on his face, he is Jameson's perfect double. Jameson is forced to admit he is the same man.Jameson explains that two thousand years ago, he was obsessed with living longer. He searched out the experts, but no one could help him until an alchemist took a great deal of his money and subjected Jameson to his experiments. Jameson isn't certain exactly how it happened but that he nearly died of the experiments. Believing they had failed, he went on living his life only to watch his friends and relatives age and die while he remained the same.Kittridge, an old man afraid of dying, doesn't understand Jameson's weariness about this remarkable feat. His friend explains that death is what makes life worth living. He watch