The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-08-18
IN HER SECOND CENTURY.
Mrs. Turpey Celebrating Her tO0th Birthday
Her Opinion OF beats Kesrney.


On Thursday, Mrs Margaret Turpey OF
Flushing, Long Island. celebrated her Tooth
birthday. She has lived in Flushing for the
past twenty-five years. and her age ie we'll
authenticated day and date, by Trustworthy
testimony. which shows that she was born on
Aug. l5 1869. Mrs. Turpcy was visited on
Thursday by q reporter for THE sUs. On being
introduced 10 q eprightly little woman, with
sparkling eyes and clear, intelligent lace. II
seemed TO him that there must be some mistake
about her age. But testimony was soon pro-
duced by the old lady's grandson. n mere strip
ling OF &C. which satisfied him that there was
no mistake. Mrs Turpey ia ono o. those per
sons who are called chirpy" She Ia rs bright
and brisk ~ one OF her own grandchildren.
When tho reporter called, she rose from her
low rocking chair az easily as n woman OF forty
would have done. looked at her visitor intcntly
with her sharp. blue eyes, and after rescatng
herself entered into conversation that cost no
unusual eXcrtion OF voice ON the part Of her in
Il was born" said sho. in county Roscom-
mon, Ireland. on tho 18th day Of August. 1869
To-day is my birthday, and. glory TO God bar
ring the hot weather. am real spry yet. sure.
! am mn old woman indeed and II ! didn't know
mo. Oh, can get round m well almost M ever.
but for the last eight months do be- 80 grievng
thnt don't seem otake any interest in things"
. ~
OF lny or thcrcnbouts. who was engaged in
some little household duty in the room. ex-
planned: When granny came 70 this country
little boy. with her liz died a tow months ago
and, ~ he had always been n pet Of the old lady,
TO exert herself icss than usual. although her
appcttc remains good and she is not visihly
Mrs Turpcy. until tho death Of her rrand-
son. supported herself 10y the work Of her own
hands. mostly by knitting, a grandmothcrly
Kind OF employment at which ehc In said to be-
singuarly dcft. Her frame liz wiry and sinewy
and she tells with apnrdonahle pride that when
sue was woman OF rising sixty she could
hlnd and tie after four able bodied reapcrs.
When peace was declared between England
and the !nited States NJ the close " the Rcvo-
luton, Mrs. Turpey was "a Lass 81 eighteen and
at the beginning 81 the irouhlcs Of % was verg-
ing on her thirticthy"ar. Her memory of her
childhood and early womanhood is peculiarly
vivid and she tells the story OF how. in the
height of the trouble she and almost all the
work ing force, not only Of her own but Of
the stacks 81 grain and hay To- watch against
the ilre nends, leaving the house. as OF less
Importance. To be- kept by the old men, She
recalled some OF the scenes in which ahc had
been participant. or her early DAYS I'm lrc-
land she Is full Of reminis'ences and recalled
with JUNCTION the times when she nursed Father
O,Byrne. the venerable pastor of the Catholic
Church nj Gowanus. n man nearly 10 years u
age. who, was until seven or eight years ago
pastor OF the Flushing Church Of the same
denomination. and who bears testimony
to Mrs, Turpey's great aee. Mrs Turpcy is
WI ihl'lll'h Us 10 UlullffN OF contemporary
history, and she reads the newspapers without
spectacles and denounccs Denis Kearncy in
good. round terms rs good Tor nothing
hlathorsk ito"
sure" said she. . it's his kind that does be
making all the trouble. The worlds agood-
enough world M things 60"
Her hearing is as acute as any ones she has
all the teeth in the lower jaw. and has only lost
few of the others. Her hair is not nearly so
white rs thnt OF many person Of eighty Her
health ia quite M to the average and her habits
hro exceedingly regular and temperate. She
makes II her boast that she never used tobacco
or liquor In her freedom from the decrrpi-
tude usual TO age. and her general sprightli-
ness. she reminds one Of Hoods old lady. who
"-hyed O. hc a hundred ana ten
d luf "A fall fUu a her tree. fN.f