The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1875-08-11

For THE RECORD
AUNT BETSEY BRIGGS.
Many reformers wage crusades against the
modern style of dress, condemning it as waste
full, untidy, and unhealthful. Ladies read
what the would-be reformers write, and listen
to what they say and coolly purchase
twenty Live yards of material fashion it into a
suit, and having tied as much Of it behind
them as possible, go wiggling around, until
dame fashion announces that they may loosen
their garments. This may be well or i'll
Far be 1t from me, to say what any woman
shall wear or shall not wear i simply pro-
pose to give the readers Of The RECORD brief
account Of Aunt Betsey Briggs, the oldest in
habitant in this neighborhood, being in her
ninety first year.
called on the old lady the other day, and
found her bringing in some clothes from the
line. "Tve been washing" she said,
Libby, one of my great granddaughter,
said she would wash for me, but I told her
no, l was better able to wash than she. !"
You would never think Of applying the adjec-
tive feeble to Aunt Betsey she is as straight
as an Indian, has number of teeth left, and
her hair, which was once light brown, is
softened into partial gray, yet quite album
dant. Her voice and movements are as Wig
orous as tho she were in her prime.
looked at the old lady rs she sat talking
of by-gone days, telling little incidents with a
quaint humor Of her own, and thought what
a pleasant picture she made. Her neat cap,
partially covering her; smoothly banded hair,
her plain print gown, cut in precisely the
same way as the gowns of her girlhood, and
her tidy neck kerchief, folded neatly across
her shoulders and fastened at the waist.
Every article of her clothing SO cut as to al
low complete freedom of motion. Perhaps
thought 1, Aunt Betsey's wonderful longevity
and healthfulness, may be, in some measure,
due to her having adopted from her youth a
sensible and comfortable style of dress.
Her little cottage was SO arranged that she
could do all her household work, without as
cendiug or descending single STOP Indeed,
a simple regard for comfort and convenience
was evidently all that was considered in
Aunt Betsey's domestic arrangements. The
old lady had lived long enough to give evi.
dence of what would be the result Of regulat-
ing ones habits of life according to this
method. = ~
Here she was, as hale and capable centen-
NAL specimen as can be found dwelling in
the midst of a numerous posterity, by whom
she is regarded as an oracle. She had in the
beginning, sound mind placed in sound
body and by q sensible, temperate life she
has retained both for the long period of
ninety-one years.
She married in early girlhood, and lost her
husband in a few years, being left with two
children, who are still living, both of whom
have passed their three score years and ten.
"Yes, "--said the old lady in speaking of
her family, Il had only two children but I
have had twenty-four grand children, one
hundred great grand children, and two great
great grandchildren ; not one of them all, be-
ing born with any deformity either of mind
or body. To be sure some of them have
acted foolishly, but it wasn't because of bad
counsel from me-" Aunt Betsey's counsel
might be summed up in the following pre-
cept: "Behave yourself, take care of yourself
and let others do the same I"
The good woman thought book learning
well enough, but the sooner boys and girls be-
gin to use their hands in supplying the wants
of their bodies, the better it was for all con-
cerned. She never scoffed at religion, neither
did she urge it's claims.
Now let us see what has been the effect of
these principles upon her numerous progeny.
All who have reached years of maturity are
men and women in the common walks Of
life having no higher aim than to provide
for the physical vents Of themselves and
families plain ordinary people, who live and
die without having their souls stirred by
single lofty ambition or nobie impulse.
Should you talk to Aunt Betsey of the
grand schemes for beneftting the race, should
you speak Of the moral beauty of y self-deny-
ing, benevolent life, she would probably
bring her steel bowed spectacies to bear upon
you, and observing you attentively with her
sbrewed gray eyes, would mentally decide
that you were "Iittle lacking" So much
for Aunt Betsey Briggs. Fine old lady as
she 10, can we in all respects consider her a
success?
Lake Huntington, N. Y.
K. B. LARSON.