Sruli (Yisrael) Mecheles had become such a very old Jew that perhaps only some of the oldest members of the communities would still remember him when he had walked without a cane (staff). However, the young people just remember him going around with a knotted, shiny, red cinnamon colored cane, which he would jab at all of the young trouble making rabble rousers, hitting them on their noses.
As old as Sruli Mecheles was, that is how actively involved he was in everything that happened in the little town. Whether there were elections for a new Mayor or a new Gabbai, or upon the arrival of a Maggid, or Matif, or Zionist speaker, or a Cantor with a choir, Sruli Mecheles was always the first one to arrive and take a front row seat. Afterwards he would relate his opinions, whether in the Trisker study hall during the first Minyan or Friday afternoon, where he was one of the first ones to arrive at the Mikvah, the ritual bath house.
He lived on the same street as the Synagogue around the Austrover Synagogue in a very small house, passed on through generations. The house was so old that it was already half way settled into the ground. His livelihood consisted of going throughout the town all day Thursday and on Friday morning with a large book under his arm, collecting money for Bikur Cholem, the sick fund, which was located next to the Jewish hospital.
He was a very good-hearted man, never getting angry. He always enjoyed relating events of past years in the little town. For instance, they had built the distillery where you could buy a bucket of Orkevet whiskey for two kopecks, but nobody could afford the two kopecks.
One time, Sruli related that the manager of Grof Petovsky's estate in Antonion came into this little town to buy merchandise in the store. He paid with a half Imperial, worth seven and a half rubles. The merchant went all over the town to get change but no one, including the rich people of the town, had enough money to make change.
He also used to tell how the gristmill was built, how the footbridge and waterwheel were made, the new great synagogue, and other projects.
He also related that in his younger days he was very strong and worked as a barrel maker. He could make barrels better and quicker than anyone else.
But mostly he would like to talk about his longevity. He said that he hoped and waited for the opportunity of living a full 120 years. He would tell the following story:
One time, when he was still a very young child, the Saddener Rebbe arrived in town for the Sabbath. Sruli had the privilege of holding the Shammas candle, which was used at the end of the Sabbath, when the Rebbe would make Havdalah. After the Havdalah, the Rebbe patted him on his little head and asked his name. The Rebbe's followers among the Chassidim immediately told him that the child's name is Yisrael, named after Yisrultze Rushiner, the Saddener Rebbe's father. The Rebbe, then, blessed the child with long life and years.
One Shabbos morning, during the Torah reading, Sruli Mecheles had Zanvel, the town Shammas, announce in all of the Synagogues, Study halls and gathering places, that on Tuesday morning, with G-D's will, he is inviting all the Jews to the first Minyan in the main synagogue for cake and whiskey in honor of his second Bar Mitzvah at the age of 113 years. Understand that a half of the little town's Jews came to the first Minyan, along with the Chassidim and others, viewing this as a very special occasion, a unique Bar Mitzvah. The place was packed more than when people came on Yom Kippur for closing Neilah service.
Immediately after this, the First World War started, followed by the Civil War. The town was captured by Austria, followed by a takeover by the Bolsheviks. The Government kept changing from Bolchevik to Petlurofs, then to the Poles and then reverted back to the Bolsheviks. The little town was robbed many times and lived through a major pogrom in which about 150 people were murdered. Over half of the houses were shot up or burned from the bombardments and the pogroms. Sruli Mecheles, with his little house, lived through all of this.
One fall morning, when the Jews of the town woke up early to recite the morning prayers, the 13 principles of faith, a neighbor went by Sruli's little house. When she looked through the window, she nearly fainted and screamed from fright. This raised a tumult. From all sides the Jews started to run, both men and women.
Upon entering the house, they found Sruli Mecheles stretched out on the floor on bundles of straw, dressed in his shrouds, with candles burning at his head.
The whole town attended his funeral which was arranged the same day. Religious Jews declared that he must have been one of the 36 righteous people (it is thought that in any generation there are 36 hidden righteous people); since not only did he live"a long life and years", but he was also given the knowledge, "from above", as to his date of death.