Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-08-11
BRADFORD HosrrAllTv.


We live In an age Of Centennisls, aud every
body 10 going TO attend the exhibition at Phila
delphia next year Little did We suppose thatw'
would be called upon t, participate 10 loea
Centennial movement until the st Of Angus, ,whei
a note from the Committee came to hand, inviting
Us to participate 10 a private Centsnniaist Mrs
Young's, near Biglsr station, on The 9TH. On th
day indicated. we repaired to the rural abode o
Mr' Young. located in central Bradford, wher
we were introduced to GRANDMOTHER" Locket
; and four generations Of her descendants. THE,
were not all presept).
Mary Locket, who're maiden name was Jones
was born in Montgomery county, near Pbiiadei
phis, as shown by the family record, on the III
day Of August, II75. just eleven months befor,
the Declaration Of Independence, aud was there
fore. one husd,ed years old last Wednesday. Their,
she sa, In her chair. visibly the victim Of old age
with u slow mind, but after little reflection ane
debate, her recollcctions would brighten up and
she would lead OF In conversation Her hearing
is not very acute, and her sight har been failins
fast for few yesrs, although -h. seldom wor,
glnsses and could read hne print withou, then
until recently.
To Illustrate her temperament, we viii relate
the following incidents; A lady friend present
knowing that she was exceedingly fond Of dancing
eighty years oso, remarked "Mrs. Lockst, would
you like to see dance here today" "Indeed
would, and wenld like to take a hand myself
Another lady said "Mn. Lockei, so many oi
your friends and neighbors have called TO see you
to-day, you will have to assist US In getting the
dinneri "Yej well, prepared the beans for
dinner yesterday. Just let me know what shall
do but then there are so many cooks bere, some
Of you will be IN Wy Say" f'N
II 10 proper to state that this birthday party,
or picnic, was = surprise to the old lady. The
family was not even aware Of the arrangements
being made by the neighbors until few days
previous. 81.
Mrs. Locket- father removed FROM Montgomery
county to Philadelphia when che was quite young,
aud there at the age of 10 she married David
Lockei or Loekard, and after tweniy-one years
Of married lie, her husband died. The fruits Of
the marriage were one son and three daughters.
The son and the youngest daughter, Mrs. Young.
with whom she now resides, only survive. The
former is 6s and the latter 66 years Of age
Sarah Tuston, Of Philadelphia, is sister to Mrs.
Loeket, and is in her s9th year. Although the
mother OF but four children, she has as her sue /.
cessors, 10 grandchiidren, SO greatgtandehi.
dren, and u great great grandchildren.
| II will be observed that the old lady has been
widow for sixty years. She removed from
Philadelphia to covington township, this county,
eighteen years ago, and from there to Bradford,
where shs now resides with her daughter. ten
years later, ltis, indeed, remarkabeto witness
much bodily decay, aud yet such excel.
lent health and unimpairej mental faculties as
she possesses. Her appetite l. excellent, she rests
and sleeps we'll, and she talks of attending the
Centennial at Philadelphia next year. Think Of
that, ye 60 year old grannies She says she
knows all about Philadelphia, aud she would like
to 90 down and take look at Il,
Here, the Chairman Of the Committee Of Ar.
raui;emcnts breaks in on our rcyerie, exclaiming ;
"Dinner is ready" aud from the movement, II
was evident that the guests were similarly silua-
ted The old lady arose and exclaimed "well,
lets 20 !" and leaning on her staff and the arm Of
Mrs. Young. they together proceeded to the head
Of the table, which had been arranged by the
Committee in the yard south Of the dwelling,
elegantly shaded by fruit trees and srabbery ,and
loaded down with the products Of the earth, after
having been manipulated Wy the hands Of expert
cooks, Of whom, II was very evident, Bradford
township contains a goodly number. The table
being surrounded by from fifty to sixty persons,
the Chairman Of tho Committee called upon Mr..
John Dale lin his sOth Year., the next oldest
Boyer was called upon to deliver an address,
which be did in excellent style, visibly gratifying
TO all. At the conclusion Of his remarks, the
elmer man" and woman were tountfully sup
piled with all that industry, wealth and intelli-
genee could command. About eighty Of the
party engaged in the festivities, Mrs. Lockst re-
naming at the head Of the table for at least one
hour, supported by her daughter, Mrs. Young,
aged GO, aud her great-great granddaughter,
Maggie Redifer, aged ycars. Amer all were
seated, curiosity drew to the bead Of the table
to see the sight. The ladies were seated on the
left Of Mrs. Loekei, and the gentlemen on her
right, according to age--Mr. and Mrs. John Dale
being the oldest, then came Mr.. aud Mrs. Gear
hart, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor, followed by the liolts,
Picrces, Wilson's, and a number Of others whose
names We do not reccoIleci, not being intimately
acquainted with them The sigh, was grand
one, aud just covered a hundred years from the
upper to the lower cud of the table. A babe at
one end Of the table trying to satisfy itself by
thrusting It's little fist down its throat, while a
cenienarian at the other end occupied her time
by INDUCING in roast chicken, fried ham, beef
steak, pound, jelly aud sponge cake, ice cream,
etc. The baby was evidently cheated, but that
was no fault Of the hostess, nor the Committee.
After the guests began to withdraw, and bid
ding the hostess farewell, she exclaimed "oh
dear, how lonely | will be for a week or two. This
is what enjoy" when the party was about
separating, Mrs. Locket invited all to come and
sec her next year.
As elsndestine arrangement on the part Of
the Committees, for the purpose Of surprising the
old lady, the affair VIE a success 10 all its depart
ments, and everything and everybody seemed to
get to the right place without disguise or unnecl
essary ceremony. The Committee Of Arrange
mcnts consisted Of
Mrs. p. Curley, Mrs. David Forcey,
y. d. Read, Mr.. Curlcy,
A. l.. Freeman, DR.. Read, .if.
Jas. McQuann, Mr.. Freeman,
Thus. forccy, /" MeQuann.
Iauunah Pierce, rrrH
It would be well enough provided we are in
vited to attend theln) for our good friends down
10 Bradford to get up more OF these surprise pic
mics. They seem to understand just what il nee
essary. Ard we would suggest, that II they have
no more ccntenarisns down there, 70 try II on an
so year old, even on one Of three and ten.
Affairs Of this kind help to smooth the rugged
ways Of declining years, as we'll as those Of mid
die age, and ineaIcatc sentiments and feelings
that cannot he acquired under any other oircum-
stances, and cannot bo ignored until the subjcet
passes to the other side.
STILL "IN POSITION. The "locap'
Of the fairplay tcol.) Ssndnsi, comes back at US
in this way
ave bave received several copies Of the RE-
PUBLICAN, published at Cleariell, Pa, in which
Office We took our Grst lessons In the "ar prcserya-
tive" many bright summers agone. Since then
the RKrupLicAs has enlarged from seven TO
min, column paper, but the old boss,' as we then
termed him, Geo. b, 0oodisader. is still at the
helm, and be must certainly feel q justifable